In 2016, Ottavia Busia-Bourdain separated from her now ex-husband, the late chef Anthony Bourdain. Constant travel was part of Anthony's career, and he told People that this made his family life far from ordinary, while Ottavia formally stated, "my husband and I have been for years in an unconventional relationship [...] We respect the decisions the other has made."

In the documentary "Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain," Ottavia stated that it seemed like Anthony wanted "this idyllic picture of family and [...] After a while maybe that wasn't enough anymore." Creative collaborator Chris Collins stated that Anthony's urges to travel were "equally as great" as his want to make up for his absence to his family.

Ultimately, it seems like Bourdain constantly being on the road damaged his relationship with his wife. The chef was romantically linked to actress Asia Argento before his sudden death, and Ottavia only got to finalize their divorce post-mortem. In "Roadrunner," Ottavia sadly expresses her feeling that "I should have kept an eye on him more."