Lawson was apparently prevented from boarding a flight from Heathrow to Los Angeles on Sunday (March 30), after admitting to drug use in a trial against two former aides last year.
Bourdain took to Twitter to vent his anger at the decision.
I am absolutely mortified with embarrassment over the cruelty and hypocrisy of US actions re: #Nigella
travel. Unbelievable.
— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) April 3, 2014
He went on to compare Lawson's situation to the controversy surrounding Rob Ford, the mayor of Toronto, following a substance abuse scandal last year.
Toronto mayor, Rob Ford? Welcome to the USA. Nigella Lawson? No. REALLY? Absolutely appalling misuse of our system. And by whom? How?
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— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) April 3, 2014
A spokeswoman for the US Embassy explained: "There are several ways of legally travelling into the United States and Ms Lawson has been invited to come to the Embassy and apply for a visa for travel to the US.
"We understand she has professional requirements for US travel and these matters are generally handled routinely and expeditiously, so stand by."
The Metropolitan Police confirmed in January that Lawson would face no action over her admission of past drug use at the trial, in which Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo were found not guilty of defrauding Lawson's ex-husband Charles Saatchi of £685,000 through unauthorised credit card and taxi spending.
Despite confirmation from the police that no action would be taken against Lawson, US authorities are thought to have banned the airline from allowing her to travel to the country, as they can choose to bar certain visitors on drug offences even if they have not been arrested or charged.
