Whereas Padma Lakshmi is most recognized for her activism and culinary prowess, the tv host and creator can also be recognized for her high-profile romances.
Lakshmi was briefly married to creator Salman Rushdie, a relationship that each events mentioned of their respective memoirs. In 2009, she was locked in a troublesome custody battle with ex Adam Dell, the daddy of her daughter, Krishna, whereas additionally relationship Theodore Frostmann.
After being romantically linked with Terrance Hayes in 2021, Lakshmi went on to spark relationship rumors with Prime Chef season 17 winner Melissa King, after the pair wore corresponding Addams Household-themed Halloween Costumes in October 2025. (King went as Gomez Addams, whereas Lakshmi dressed as his spouse, Morticia Addams.)
“Melissa is someone whose cooking I all the time cherished,” Lakshmi informed People on October 28, two days earlier than the pair's seemingly coupled-up costumes. “She's enjoyable and we get pleasure from one another's firm. She tends to be my plus one typically so folks will see us on the purple carpet collectively.”
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Lakshmi later appeared to acknowledge the relationship rumors, telling King throughout an Instagram cooking video to “cease spreading rumors” days after King was seen sitting in Laksmi's lap throughout a ebook launch get together.
Us Weekly reached out to reps for each Laksmi and King for remark on the time.
In her 2016 memoir, Lakshmi recalled participating in relationships with girls when she was modeling in Milan and Paris.
“Some I remorse, however not all, like realizing what it's like to the touch and be touched by a lady,” she wrote. She additional opened up concerning the time she spent exploring her sexuality in 2016 whereas chatting with Andy Cohen.
“It was the primary time I used to be distant from house and I used to be surrounded by essentially the most stunning girls on this planet,” she mentioned on the time. “I'm not sorry. It was the primary time I used to be an grownup. I used to be experimenting with my sexuality.”
Preserve scrolling for Lakshmi's relationship historical past:
Salman Rushdie
Padma Lakshmi and Salman Rushdi Jim Spellman/WireImage
Lakshmi and Rushie have been first romantically linked in 1999, occurring to say “I do” in 2004. The wedding lasted three years, every discussing their very own model of what they declare went improper within the relationship through their respective memoirs. The pair divorced in 2007.
In her 2016 ebook Love, Loss and What We Ate, Lakshmi insisted that her relentless endometriosis ache contributed to the breakdown of the connection, and that Rushdie accused her of utilizing the persistent illness as an excuse to not have intercourse. In his personal 2012 memoir Joseph Anton, Rushdie accused Lakshmi of being unable to simply accept that he additionally has a highlight on his personal profession and work.
Adam Dell
Padma Lakshmi and Adam Dell Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Photographs for TBS
Dell, brother of the founding father of the Dell pc firm, and Lakshmi started relationship in 2009. The TV host later opened up about why it may not have been the perfect resolution to maneuver on so shortly after her divorce from Rushdie.
“I didn't need to be in a critical relationship,” she informed former Right this moment host Matt Lauer. “I used to be nonetheless actually hurting from my divorce. I most likely shouldn't have been with anyone and simply taken the time I wanted for myself. However I used to be offered with two very completely different, very fascinating males. Males do it on a regular basis. I selected to do it, and I used to be open with the boys concerned.”
Lakshmi turned pregnant together with her daughter Krishna whereas relationship Dell, and a prenatal paternity take a look at finally revealed he was the newborn's father. The pair entered right into a custody battle that was settled out of courtroom in 2012. Additionally they resumed their relationship in 2017, however referred to as it quits for good in 2021 when Lakshmi confirmed she was single.
Theodore Frostmann
Padma Lakshmi and Theodore Frostmann PATRICK MCMULLAN/Patrick McMullan through Getty Photographs
Lakshmi and Frostmann, previously the pinnacle of IMG, have been linked in 2009, when she was additionally relationship Adam Dell. Lakshmi conceived her daughter Krishna whereas she was concerned with each males, and tried to start her household with Frostmann as the daddy. A paternity take a look at later revealed Krishna's organic father to be Dell, and the events entered right into a custody battle. Frostmann died in 2011 at age 71 and reportedly left a belief fund of practically $2 billion to Krishna.
“Teddy was this conservative, Republican, Catholic church-going, golf-playing [guy] and you understand, I'm this bleeding coronary heart liberal,” Lakshmi informed People in 2016. “I don't know which finish of the golf membership is up.”
She continued, “Right here is the very epitome of firm however he was form of an outlier. He had a unique manner of doing issues. He didn't take himself too severely, which is refreshing in somebody who's that completed. He was actually humble. He had self esteem. He had swagger. He was a person with an enormous ego however he wore his uniqueness calmly.”
After his loss of life, Frostmann was described to the International Business Times as having been “finishing up the position of father for the reason that second Krishna was delivered into his arms.”
Richard Gere
Richard Gere Tristar Media/Getty Photographs
Lakshmi briefly dated Gere for 2 months in 2014. In 2016, she informed People and Leisure Weekly's Jess Cagle that“Richard is a very nice, candy man.”
”He was the primary particular person I dated [after Teddy] and he was very good to [my daughter] Krishna,” she added. “However I believe we have been each grieving in our personal manner. We have been solely collectively for six months. However he met my mom on the primary date.”
Within the temper for love! Typically celebrities are so smitten that they need to present their affections for his or her important different on essentially the most romantic vacation of the yr: Valentine's Day. From Girl Gaga and Taylor Kinney to Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid to Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart, stars have been honoring the love-filled […]
Terrance Hayes
Terrance Hayes Richard Chapin Downs Jr./Getty Photographs
Hayes and Lakshmi have been linked in 2021, when a supply informed People the connection was within the “early days they usually're nonetheless attending to know one another.” The pair have been sighted kissing and holding palms whereas strolling Lakshmi's canine.
In the identical yr, Lakshmi confirmed she is single and there's no indication she and Hayes are nonetheless relationship.
