Padma Lakshmi and chef Melissa King sparked romance rumors final month after their {couples}’ Halloween costume raised eyebrows — however what’s the actual standing of their relationship?
“They’re simply shut associates,” a supply solely tells Us Weekly.
Lakshmi, 55, and King, 42, have identified one another for years, however “they’re not relationship,” the insider says.
“There’s nothing romantic occurring,” the supply provides, noting, “There’s no validity to the rumors” they’re a pair.
Lakshmi was launched to King throughout season 12 of Prime Chef, which Lakshmi hosted, whereas King competed for the coveted cooking title. King didn’t win her first season, however she took residence the trophy throughout season 17 in 2020.
“Melissa King, you actually got here into your personal this season on Prime Chef. It’s been such a pleasure to look at you blossom right into a assured, on level and progressive chef,” Lakshmi wrote by way of Fb in June 2020 after presenting King together with her trophy. “You confirmed us how Chinese language meals will be elevated and Chinese language flavors improve all meals. Your finale dishes have been beautiful. You make me so proud! Brava!!”
Over the subsequent 5 years, Lakshmi and King nurtured a friendship off digital camera. Lakshmi spoke about their bond in October — days earlier than the pair triggered a stir with their joint Halloween costume.
“Melissa is any individual whose cooking I at all times beloved,” Lakshmi advised Individuals on October 28. “She’s enjoyable and we get pleasure from one another’s firm. She tends to be my plus one typically so individuals will see us on the purple carpet collectively.”
King shined a lightweight on their friendship days later when she posted a sequence of images of their Addams family-inspired Halloween costumes. King dressed as Gomez Addams, whereas Lakshmi channeled her interior Morticia Addams.
Two of the pair’s different associates dressed as Wednesday Addams and butler Lurch for the spooky season.
“I’d die for her. I’d kill for her. 🥀🖤— Gomez Paddams,” King wrote alongside an Instagram video of the foursome on November 1.
Krishna Lakshmi-Dell, Padma Lakshmi and Melissa King. Courtesy of Padma Lakshmi/Instagram
In a separate submit, King cuddled as much as Lakshmi whereas dressed because the TV husband and spouse. “Cara Mia! 🥀,” she captioned the snap, which is the Italian phrase for “my pricey.”
Lakshmi fueled relationship hypothesis later that week when she was noticed laughing with King on the New York Metropolis launch celebration for the discharge of her Padma’s All American Tales, Travels, and Recipes from Style the Nation and Past: A Cookbook.
In a video shared on November 4 by way of DelishYES’s Instagram account, Lakshmi positioned her hand over her face, whereas King sat on her lap and touched her arm.
Later that month, Lakshmi and King poked enjoyable on the rumors surrounding their relationship whereas cooking collectively by way of an Instagram video.
Within the November 9 clip, King joked that Lakshmi’s nails “are so homosexual proper now.” Lakshmi laughed earlier than telling her good friend, “Cease beginning rumors.”
Whereas Lakshmi hasn’t publicly addressed the romance rumors, she beforehand talked about her sexuality in her 2016 memoir, Love, Loss and What We Ate.
She revealed within the guide that in her modeling days in Milan and Paris she “acted out my curiosities and fantasies,” together with a quick romance with a girl.
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“Some I remorse, however not all, like realizing what it’s like to the touch and be touched by a girl,” Lakshmi wrote.
Lakshmi later spoke with Andy Cohen about her sexual exploration throughout a March 2016 Q&A session.
“It was the primary time I used to be distant from residence and I used to be surrounded by probably the most stunning girls on the earth,” she recalled. “I’m not sorry. It was the primary time I used to be an grownup. I used to be experimenting with my sexuality.”
She concluded, “I by no means had had an emotional, romantic relationship with a girl. However I’m not sorry. It was a stupendous expertise. It occurred just a few occasions and that’s it.”
