Padma Lakshmi is a huge name when it comes to the cooking universe, and has been a long time host of show Top Chef for more than a decade. As the face of the series she made sure to dive deeper into different cuisines and give the audience a better look at what happens behind the kitchen tables.
But she left everyone shocked when she announced her departure from the show after 17 years. And this decision of hers wasn’t random and she had a deeper reason behind it as well.
The reason why Padma Lakshmi said goodbye to Top Chef
Padma Lakshmi became almost synonymous with Top Chef, having hosted the show for almost a decade. So when she suddenly announced her departure after 17 years, she left everyone utterly shocked, as her presence was a huge deal for the fans. She delivered sharp critiques and helped some of the best chefs in the industry navigate through the show.
But behind the scenes, even she admitted that the decision to leave was not an easy one. Just moments after announcing the winner of Top Chef: World All Stars, she admitted via Los Angeles Times that “This was a really tough decision.” While she looked calm and composed on screen, her departure was obviously quite emotional for her fans.
Throughout the years, Lakshmi became a huge part of the show, so for many, watching it without her is almost unthinkable. Her departure was solely because of a shift in priorities, and after working for so many years, she needed a break.
On her Hulu series, she mentioned that it was a passion project and she fully wants to dedicate herself to it. She also added:
It consumes me in the best way—intellectually, spiritually, creatively—and I just want to keep making it.
Another factor that led to this decision of hers was the amount of food she consumed on Top Chef. She mentioned:
That’s not to say I don’t want to do more projects. But I also don’t want to eat like I do on “Top Chef” anymore. I’m the only one on the show that eats every single thing. I did it for a long time, and I don’t think that is sustainable for me.
While stepping away was a tough choice for her, she left the show with immense pride. She became a huge part of shaping the show into what it is today, and while fans will miss her, this is her time to turn a new page in her life.
Endometriosis had a huge effect on Padma Lakshmi’s life and career
While Padma Lakshmi was having a fantastic professional career, in her personal life, she was dealing with some major challenges. She struggled with a painful condition that had affected her health for years. During the 2024 Simmons Leadership Conference in Boston, she detailed how endometriosis became a reason why she lost a lot of work.
Not only that, but she also missed important events and moments with her friends and family. The issue started all the way back when she was just 13 years old. She experienced extremely painful periods that not only left her stuck in bed but also required pain medication. However, she wasn’t even aware that she had a medical condition.
For over two decades, she lived with this pain without even knowing what was wrong. But everything changed when she was 36 years old and was finally diagnosed with endometriosis and underwent surgery.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
