The set of Top Chef once turned into a real-life thriller, and Padma Lakshmi found herself in the middle of it. During filming, an angry mob allegedly threatened her safety, creating a terrifying situation that could’ve ended horribly. The worst part? The culprits walked free after trial.
What should’ve been a culinary showdown almost became a crime scene, leaving Lakshmi shaken but determined.
A cooking show turned crime scene: How Top Chef put host Padma Lakshmi in danger
Back in 2014, Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi faced a terrifying standoff while filming in Massachusetts. Teamsters Union Local 25 members, protesting the show’s non-union production, allegedly blocked her vehicle outside Steel & Rye and hurled threats. Per Boston Herald reporter Laurel Sweet, one even leaned in and sneered,
Oh, lookie here. What a shame about that pretty face.
Lakshmi later testified in a Boston federal court, recalling how her heart pounded as she felt genuinely threatened.
I felt like he was bullying me, like he was telling me he was going to hit me. I could feel my heart beat in my chest. I felt threatened.
She wasn’t the only one shaken. Supervising producer Ellie Carbajal testified that the Teamsters surrounded Lakshmi’s car, with one allegedly saying (via Deadline):
That’s the pretty one. We want to smash her face in.
The court even reviewed footage where protesters hurled racist and misogynistic slurs at Carbajal. Judge Gail Simmons also took the stand, revealing she feared for her safety.
Four Teamsters, Robert Cafarelli, John Fidler, Daniel Remond, and Michael Ross, were charged with extortion for trying to strong-arm the production company into hiring union drivers. All pleaded not guilty.
Despite the chilling testimonies, they walked free after trial. Meanwhile, Lakshmi and her team were left with a brutal reality – what should’ve been a high-stakes cooking competition turned into a real-life nightmare.
Padma Lakshmi returned to hosting with a new CBS cooking show
Padma Lakshmi isn’t stepping away from the kitchen just yet. After leaving Top Chef, she reportedly teamed up with CBS for a brand-new cooking competition series. The network had “struck a development deal” with Lakshmi and former NBCU content chief Susan Rovner, with both serving as executive producers (via Deadline).
Details were scarce, but CBS made its first big move into food entertainment, aiming to compete with Top Chef and MasterChef.
Lakshmi left Top Chef after nearly two decades, citing the toll it took on her health. Still, she remained proud of the show’s legacy. She also wanted more time for her Hulu docuseries, Taste the Nation, which premiered its second season on May 5, 2023.
Top Chef is available to watch on Peacock & Apple TV.
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