Padma Lakshmi Stephanie Diani/Bravo
Padma Lakshmi opened up about her causes for leaving Prime Chef after internet hosting the Bravo competitors collection for 17 years.
Lakshmi, 52, detailed her thought course of in an interview with Selection’s “Awards Circuit” podcast on Thursday, August 24. “I had been on location for eight months out of the 12 months. And once I wasn’t on location, I used to be in pre- and post-production for each my exhibits,” she defined, referring to Prime Chef and her Hulu collection, Style the Nation. “And I used to be taking a look at edits of 1 present whereas on the set of one other present. It was simply exhausting and untenable for me to proceed that method.”
Lakshmi went on to say that her busy schedule additionally wasn’t leaving her a lot time for courting. “I haven’t had a relationship in a very long time both, as a result of I’m all the time working. I don’t know once I assume I used to be going to fulfill anyone,” she mentioned. “I’m surrounded by folks I both make use of or make use of me, and neither of these [groups of] persons are applicable [for a romantic relationship].”
She additional defined that she desires to spend extra time along with her 13-year-old daughter, Krishna, whom she shares with ex Adam Dell. “It was additionally about having a private life, to be trustworthy, and likewise being current for my daughter — she’s a teen,” Lakshmi mentioned. “In 5 years, she’s going to go off and have her personal life and hopefully go to school and stuff. It wasn’t a straightforward determination.”
Lakshmi introduced her exit from Prime Chef in June, shortly earlier than the season 20 finale aired. “After a lot soul looking, I’ve made the tough determination to go away Prime Chef,” she wrote through Instagram on the time. “Having accomplished an excellent twentieth season as host and govt producer, I’m extraordinarily proud to have been a part of constructing such a profitable present and of the affect it has had within the worlds of tv and meals. After 17 years, most of the forged and crew are like household to me and I’ll miss working alongside them dearly.”
In her assertion, Lakshmi famous that she felt it was “time to maneuver on” so she might “make area for Style the Nation” and her “different inventive pursuits.” Style the Nation — which premiered in 2020 — hasn’t but been renewed for a 3rd season, however Lakshmi mentioned on Thursday that the Hulu collection wasn’t the one factor she thought-about when deciding to go away Prime Chef.
“Different complicated elements went into me simply being performed with Prime Chef, which we don’t have time to enter right here,” she continued. “However I believe I simply thought, ‘If I’m feeling this fashion, then I’ve bought to belief my intestine.’ I’ve additionally bought to make room in my life and my schedule for brand spanking new issues to bubble up.”
One month after Lakshmi introduced her departure, Bravo confirmed that Kristen Kish will succeed her within the internet hosting function. Kish, 39, received season 10 of Prime Chef in 2013. She has since taken her skills to Quick Foodies and Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. Earlier this 12 months, she hosted the Nationwide Geographic collection Eating places on the Finish of the World.
