Whereas Padma Lakshmi is most recognized for her activism and culinary prowess, the tv host and writer can also be recognized for her high-profile romances.
Lakshmi was briefly married to writer Salman Rushdie, a relationship that each events mentioned of their respective memoirs. In 2009, she was locked in a tricky custody battle with ex Adam Dell, the daddy of her daughter, Krishna, whereas additionally courting Theodore Frostmann.
After being romantically linked with Terrance Hayes in 2021, Lakshmi went on to spark courting 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 anyone whose cooking I at all times liked,” 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 crimson carpet collectively.”
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Lakshmi later appeared to acknowledge the courting rumors, telling King throughout an Instagram cooking video to “cease spreading rumors” days after King was seen sitting in Laksmi’s lap throughout a guide launch celebration.
Us Weekly reached out to reps for each Laksmi and King for remark on the time.
In her 2016 memoir, Lakshmi recalled partaking in relationships with girls when she was modeling in Milan and Paris.
“Some I remorse, however not all, like figuring out 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 residence and I used to be surrounded by essentially the most lovely girls on the earth,” 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.”
Maintain scrolling for Lakshmi’s courting historical past:
Salman Rushdie
Padma Lakshmi and Salman Rushdi Jim Spellman/WireImage
Lakshmi and Rushie had been first romantically linked in 1999, happening to say “I do” in 2004. The wedding lasted three years, every discussing their very own model of what they declare went incorrect within the relationship through their respective memoirs. The pair divorced in 2007.
In her 2016 guide 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 continual 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 Photos for TBS
Dell, brother of the founding father of the Dell pc firm, and Lakshmi started courting in 2009. The TV host later opened up about why it may not have been one of the best determination to maneuver on so shortly after her divorce from Rushdie.
“I didn’t need to be in a critical relationship,” she told former Today 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 along with her daughter Krishna whereas courting 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. In addition 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 Photos
Lakshmi and Frostmann, previously the pinnacle of IMG, had been linked in 2009, when she was additionally courting 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 almost $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 type of an outlier. He had a unique approach of doing issues. He didn’t take himself too critically, which is refreshing in somebody who’s that completed. He was actually humble. He had self-worth. 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 function of father because the second Krishna was delivered into his arms.”
Richard Gere
Richard Gere Tristar Media/Getty Photos
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 had been each grieving in our personal approach. We had been solely collectively for six months. However he met my mom on the primary date.”
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Terrance Hayes
Terrance Hayes Richard Chapin Downs Jr./Getty Photos
Hayes and Lakshmi had been linked in 2021, when a supply informed People the connection was within the “early days and so they’re nonetheless attending to know one another.” The pair had been sighted kissing and holding arms whereas strolling Lakshmi’s canine.
In the identical 12 months, Lakshmi confirmed she is single and there’s no indication she and Hayes are nonetheless courting.
