Padma Lakshmi’s Rebound Billionaire!

Padma plus TED.JPG KXB is one sharp, articulate, distinguished mutineer– which is why I hardly expected to find that HE deposited the hot gossip on our news tab! I love people who defy expectations, especially when they provide us with such apposite summer entertainment while doing so. Yay KXB!

Padma Lakshmi might be dating a billionaire?

Of whom we have never

Whom we have never

One who ain’t famous??

Via NYC’s other other paper:

Billionaire Ted Forstmann has trained his gaze on another world-class beauty.
The financier, whose consorts have included Elizabeth Hurley and Princess Diana, has become a fast friend of model, chef and actress Padma Lakshmi.
Their mouthpieces maintain that the two are not dating. But that hasn’t stopped some from noticing that Forstmann has appeared in Lakshmi’s life just as her husband, author Salman Rushdie, is leaving it.

Allegedly, the two are spending time together because IMG (Forstmann’s own!) will be representing her.

As early as this week, we hear, IMG is due to announce a slate of endorsement and licensing projects for Lakshmi. “IMG is global, and so is Padma’s appeal,” says one insider. “It’s a good marriage.”
Did someone say marriage?

The proof isn’t in the picture!

Lakshmi seemed a little guarded when she and Forstmann arrived together at the Elie Wiesel Foundation tribute to Oprah Winfrey at the Waldorf in May. When a photographer snapped her with Forstmann, Lakshmi asked the photog to delete the image – supposedly because the shot was blurry. She agreed to pose again – but not with Forstmann.
Rushdie suggested in a statement this month that Lakshmi was the one who wanted out of their union – that he “agreed to divorce … because of her desire to end their marriage.”

For those who think some of us are finding this mirchier than we need to:

Though he’s seven years older than Sir Salman, Forstmann seems well fixed to counsel the shapely author of “Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet.”
One industry source does find it “a little odd that Teddy is taking such an interest in Padma’s career. It’s not the side of the business he usually focuses on.”
But, perhaps in the case of Lakshmi, he’s more willing to be hands-on.

Ba-dum-bum. 😀

95 thoughts on “Padma Lakshmi’s Rebound Billionaire!

  1. No, I don’t think it’s the money – there are plenty of young wealthy men who’d love to have a chance with Padme.

    I just think she’s looking for maturity and probably feels these men that she’s dating are more mature and intellectual that your average 20-40 year old and also she admires what they’ve accomplished (not the money party, but intellectually)

    I obviously don’t know Padme, but this is my impression of her. IMO she’s the foil to that bollywood actress who was swooning over the 12 year old Portuguese soccer star.

    I’ve always been into older men too…. I think it’s a perception that I have that I think they are mature (and of course that’s not always the case)

  2. If you took the combined age of her last 2 lovers, she has banged the equivalent of a 140 year old penis. That’s alot of history in one vagina.

  3. One who ain’t famous??

    not famous! Frostmann Little! Barbarians at the Gate! Princess Di! Possible Presidential (republican) run! i’m impressed and jealous.

  4. Anna – You keep paying me compliments like that, I’m gonna have to start paying your rent.

    While there are young men in their 20’s and 30’s who may have a lot of money and fewer chins to woo the lovely Padma, they are also more likely to have their eyes and other body parts go astray. After all, they are still young. Older men, like Rupert Murdoch, Salman Rushdie, and this dude are at an age where playing the field is less important – but looks still matter.

  5. Of whom we have never Whom we have never One who ain’t famous??

    Anna, any surprise that this is my favorite part of this post?

    I officially go into mourning. Stupid Padma. You had your chance with me, and you blew it. By…um…not knowing I exist.

    I’m going to go sulk somewhere.

  6. You had your chance with me, and you blew it

    so, what are you complaining about, salil?

  7. KXB, I love you too! You’re fabulous, great, intelligent … Hey, I know. Wanna pay my rent??

    P.S. You can’t see it, but I’m batting my eyelashes and such.

  8. the british inquiry into lady di’s death accused the clinton administration of tapping teddy frostman’s phone when he was dating the former princess. its unclear whether clinton was interested in frostmann (a political rival) or di. i say teddy b/c di doesn’t strike me as being up bubba’s alley. anyway, the tapes revealed that di dreamed of becoming the US 1st lady upon a successful teddy prez bid, and could then really stick it to the royal family.

    too bad teddy’s no longer got the political bug. would’ve been intersting to have a desi 1st lady.

  9. would’ve been intersting to have a desi 1st lady.

    Don’t forget. Hillary is D-Poonjaab!

    too bad teddy’s no longer got the political bug.

    Were you also in the Steve Forbes contingent?

    its unclear whether clinton was interested in frostmann (a political rival)

    It’s Forstmann 🙂 Your spelling reminds me of this. Although maybe this match is really made in heaven given the ice-queen reputation PL has.

  10. Er, everyone is being very polite about Mr. Forstmann’s looks. How could she??? Better Gollum than this assemblage of old leather and aging ivory.

  11. I get called that all the time in any case and it doesn’t bother me at all. Rahul, Raul, Raoul, Rahool, Goopta, Tomaahto. Join the contingent.

    In any case, there are worse things than being a legend with an eyepatch.

  12. that your average 20-40 year old

    What in holy flame tipped hell? You lump a 20 year age span into ‘immature’? And why isn’t this kind of comment called on its blatant sexist undertones, overtones and middletones? Oh thats right, sexism only affects women.

  13. Er, everyone is being very polite about Mr. Forstmann’s looks. How could she??? Better Gollum than this assemblage of old leather and aging ivory.

    Cookiebrown:

    We want a place here where billionaire Private Equity Moguls are comfortable discussing a wide range of topics without feeling put down, objectified, or devalued. A safe space.

  14. And why isn’t this kind of comment called on its blatant sexist undertones, overtones and middletones?

    i think its the same “blacks can’t be racist” logic that you like to peddle, HMF 😉

  15. I’ll start by saying that I am a 30 year old immature man that still likes to play vids. A lot.

    With that said I have strong doubts about the maturity of some old dude that tries to get a round on some woman that could be his daughter. Modern relationships with 10 yrs of difference raise my eyebrows, this one is close to 30 yrs difference.

    Look, they’re adults they can do whatever they want in my book. Hell I would pull the same shit if I had that kind of cash. But I would laugh my ass off at anyone that called me “mature”.

    Now I must go back to playing winning eleven soccer on the 360.

    2 · PS on July 17, 2007 07:26 PM · Direct link No, I don’t think it’s the money – there are plenty of young wealthy men who’d love to have a chance with Padme. I just think she’s looking for maturity and probably feels these men that she’s dating are more mature and intellectual that your average 20-40 year old and also she admires what they’ve accomplished (not the money party, but intellectually) I obviously don’t know Padme, but this is my impression of her. IMO she’s the foil to that bollywood actress who was swooning over the 12 year old Portuguese soccer star.

    I’ve always been into older men too…. I think it’s a perception that I have that I think they are mature (and of course that’s not always the case)

  16. What in holy flame tipped hell? – I’ve never heard this before 🙂

    You lump a 20 year age span into ‘immature’?

    But isn’t she in her 40s? Although most 20 year old would feel 40 year old too old, Padme’s beauty, brains and success she is, would make her a prize for any 20 year old. That’s why I included the 20 year span.

    And why isn’t this kind of comment called on its blatant sexist undertones, overtones and middletones? Oh thats right, sexism only affects women.

    It’s a generalization I have, but not based on the genetic make-up of the sexes. I just feel that men are rewarded and allowed to be more immature in our society than a woman. That’s how I feel. They are so rewarded. Any women who is a player in her 40s will still have somesort of pathetic stigma on her, whereas a man, a man who’s a player in his 40s, well that just makes him more desirable – right?

  17. I knew this kind of undeveloped thinkig would surface, but surprised it would be from you. ah. none the less, here we go.

    when I say blacks can’t be racist, it’s in an institutional sense, they can harbor prejudiced views, but can’t block whites from getting jobs, suppress their vote, prevent them from getting bank loans, etc.. secondly, race is a social construct, gender is not (at least, not completely). thirdly, gender and race have similarities, but are not synonymous in terms of their social histories in struggling for equality. Marcus Garvey & the Nation of Islam called for the establishment of a ‘black state’ , name me a feminist that called for a state where only females exist, doing so would be a bio-physical impossibility.

    I think in an evolutionary, psycho-somatic sense, hutu women have more in common with rich upper east side b*tches than they do hutu men.

  18. Here. We. Go. Again.

    I wish we could set up chairs on the Internet so they could be knocked down before people rush to get at each others’ throats, and I wish the SM intern had a photo of himself as a 300 lb man rushing to separate these bareknuckle brawls. That way, I can get my Jerry Springer kicks while still discussing essentialization, representation, and January-December romances.

  19. I’ll start by saying that I am a 30 year old immature man that still likes to play vids. A lot.

    I think I’ve must have hit a nerve.

    I’m just saying that of course I’d look at a man individually if I had that opportunity, but in my experience, men seem to mature slower than ME… but you know, maybe another opinion would be that I’m not “mature”

    Look, they’re adults they can do whatever they want in my book. Hell I would pull the same shit if I had that kind of cash. But I would laugh my ass off at anyone that called me “mature”.

    I don’t know if he is mature….but I’m not like you, who thinks that an older man being attracted to a younger woman means he’s IMmature. I just think it’s a perception (and all this is my opinion but a lot of my girlfriends have voiced the same) that men mature slower and so when an older intellectual man makes a connection with you, than I can see how the shriveled old body could become attractive for a woman.

    I’ve had plenty of “dirty old men” experiences. Uh, I’m just reminded going outside my office building for a smoke and this old, old, old man with a French accent comes and makes small talk to me. He’s so old, he has to where special large shoes. He tells me about his time in France, his trips to India working for the World Bank, and then I notice he’s definitely looking at my chest. First I didn’t want to think that, but then there was no denying that through his 3 inch glasses his eyeballs were definitely peering at my chest. Gross! I didn’t in anyway think he was mature….a different personality, a different person with a face like Paul Newmann (or a face that I would be attracted to), then maybe I would have felt differently and maybe I would have talked to such an old man over an attractive 24 year old that I met, b/c maybe I’d have more in common with the “older” man I am speculating about.

    Hope that made sense. Some of you are so articulate in your comments. Please forgive me if I’m not as and I’ll try and not make as much spelling mistakes and such.


    Rahul I love your wit! Are you old (over 60), mature and available b/c every women wants that?

  20. I knew this kind of undeveloped thinkig would surface, but surprised it would be from you. ah. none the less, here we go.

    Still, you answered your own question, HMF. such sexism is not called out because it is not sexism, just prejudice. and women can’t rape men or prevent them from getting bank loans, etc.

  21. Still, you answered your own question, HMF. such sexism is not called out because it is not sexism, just prejudice. and women can’t rape men or prevent them from getting bank loans, etc

    Alright, then me saying women are more suited for child raising is equally not sexist, rather just prejudiced. But it’s never called out that way. Rape is a crime based partly on social dynamics, and partly on genital physiology.

  22. Alright, then me saying women are more suited for child raising is equally not sexist, rather just prejudiced.

    no. in your paradigm that would be sexist, since men hold the institutional power.

  23. It’s a generalization I have, but not based on the genetic make-up of the sexes. I just feel that men are rewarded and allowed to be more immature in our society than a woman. That’s how I feel.

    I don’t see this at all. Men are expected to be firm decision makers, emotionally stronger (ie, not as emotional), more determined, all hallmarks of maturity, simply because women don’t hi five each other and watch football, doesn’t instantly make them more mature. As for the “player” aspect – this is maturity in one single sphere (relationships) and I’ve had discussions that women are granted just as much leeway as men are when it comes to their relationship choices. (if not more).

    Gross! I didn’t in anyway think he was mature….a different personality, a different person with a face like Paul Newmann (or a face that I would be attracted to),

    exactly, it has nothing to do with maturity, it has to do with physical attraction, and the “halo effect” were perceived maturity is linked to it.

  24. no. in your paradigm that would be sexist, since men hold the institutional power.

    Uh not really, because such a designation is based at least partially, on clear cut physiological differences, rather than just socially created ones. Secondly, I’m not speaking of any action based on said belief (like managers not hiring women due to the fact, etc…) Rather, simply holding the belief in and of itself. The belief is not sexist.

  25. Uh not really, because such a designation is based at least partially, on clear cut physiological differences,

    so then how are PS’s comments sexist, given that only the group in power can be sexist?

  26. I’m in a relationship with a younger man, and not because I’m immature, and it does not make me immature. However, he is immature, and he’s not even a whole lot younger than me. But he does the dishes and our intimate life is great, ergo I tolerate everything else.

  27. But he does the dishes and our intimate life is great

    do the dishes and give her the big O. The key to relationships. 1 outa 2 ain’t bad.

  28. But she can always buy a dishwasher, Manju. Be careful.

    heh…and a vibrator too, so you’re going also, IABD.

  29. so you’re going also

    that should be “so you’re going down also.” i’m only nuanced when i’m joking.

  30. so then how are PS’s comments sexist, given that only the group in power can be sexist?

    They aren’t, if you (and every other woman) concede the belief stated in #24 is not sexist. But such isn’t the case, because sexism is readily used to describe those types of comments. Secondly, I don’t believe the race & gender comparisons are completely synonymous, rather only share certain similarities. Men didn’t go to Oprahland 400 years ago, bring women to America in ships then enslave them, secondly the differences between men and and women are a bit more salient than melanin, hormonal differences exist, does this mean women should remain in the kitchen because that’s their place? no, but it does mean given the physiological differences in our body and blood composition, there could be some inherent behavioral differences as well. Because men and women interacting serves an evolutionary purpose, black people and white people “getting along” serves a great social purpose, but not an evolutionary one.

  31. HMF, I’m always astounded by your need to divorce racism (as an institution) from sexism (as an institution). Gender is not constructed? Wow. I really think that the underlying issue is that racism, as a framework, resonates with your worldview, but sexism does not. I’m not saying that as an allegation, just an observation.

    I don’t think we need to belabor a conversation on “Oppression Olympics,” but I do think Manju brings up a valid critique.

  32. Gender is not constructed?

    Again, why does everyone immediately assume absolutes when making these type of social commentaries? The only thing absolute in any frame of reference is C (the speed of light), everything else must always be understood in a relative sense. Gender is not as constructed as race, I’ve already agreed there are similarities between race and gender politics, but stating they are analagous is too much of a simplification.

    I really think that the underlying issue is that racism, as a framework, resonates with your worldview, but sexism does not.

    Are you saying men cannot be targets of sexism? Listen in on any group of females talking and you’ll hear all kinds of generalizations, and expectations they have on how men should behave, and how that behavior is an inherent male trait, “He’s not a man, he has no balls, etc.. etc..”

    Being raped, while a horrible, virulent after effect of deep rooted sexist thinking (females are not human beings, rather objects), isn’t the only indicator of sexism.

  33. I apologize if I misread the following comment:

    race is a social construct, gender is not (at least, not completely).

    My interpretation of this was that you were saying that gender is not constructed, or at least 90%+ not constructed. If this is not what you meant, I apologize for misrepresenting your comment.

    I think men experience the fallout of sexism as well as women. However, in the context of the U.S. and most societies, sexism as an institution is one that privileges patriarchy. Just to disclaim – my following comments are strictly in the context of the U.S. That said, I think there is a difference between saying something sexist (i.e. that reinforces or promotes a gender hierarchy that privileges men) and saying something that is prejudiced on the basis of gender/sex, just as I think there is a difference between saying something racist (i.e. that reinforces or promotes a racial hierarchy of white supremacy) and saying something that is prejudiced on the basis of race (e.g. calling a white person a pejorative racial term). I think men absolutely suffer from gender constructs in the U.S./world, especially around what is considered “masculinity” and what is considered the realm of “femininity.” That said, I do think there is a difference between saying “women should stay in the kitchen and be breeders” versus saying “men tend to be immature.” The latter is an over-generalization and a stereotype, but I don’t think it feeds back into systems of sexism.

  34. Further off-topic (and boring!) comments may be deleted. Come on, folks. Posts like this are supposed to be lighthearted and fun.

    Discussing older women/younger men? Fun.

    Oppression Olympics? Not fun.

  35. 38 · Puliogre in da USA on July 18, 2007 10:14 AM · Direct link

    Am I the only one in the room that doesnt find padma l attractive?

    Actually I think I understand that….sometimes it seems to me that she got plastic surgery on her nose; I’m sure that’s not the case but there is something in her nose area that makes me think she is not pretty.

    But then when I see her modeling, she’s gorgeous – she’s got that modeling beauty, but maybe looks strange if you met her outside the modeling world.

  36. Oppression Olympics? Not fun.

    Sorry, Intern 🙂

    There’s something off for me about Padma. I’m sure she’s beautiful, but doesn’t quite appeal to me. Maybe it’s the “looks like she’s had work done” factor PS mentions.

  37. Manju, don’t worry about dishes, you’re hilarious.

    Older women, younger men? Absolutely, our culture’s weirdness about it be damned.

  38. she’s got that modeling beauty

    that might be it. i tend not to ifnd models attractive…

  39. that might be it. i tend not to ifnd models attractive…

    Aside from Victoria’s Secret, isn’t that generally the case?

  40. And this isn’t tantamount to saying they are completely responsible for perpetuating the systems of sexism, but a contributory component exists. (whether it’s intended or unintentional is another discussion)

    I agree. 🙂 But I also think people of color can be racist. This is probably where we diverge.

    And to keep it lighthearted, a la Intern’s admonishment, Jerry Hall is all about being a cougar 🙂

  41. I agree. 🙂 But I also think people of color can be racist. This is probably where we diverge

    Huh? The racial equivalent to females perpetuating a system that entraps them is not “reverse-racism” rather, uncle-tom’ing. And yes, there are quite a many of those folks around. (for example, the ann bancroft character in GI JANE)

  42. Anyway, I’m curious as to the logic of:

    inhumanely rich old man = dignified, mature

    middle class, poor old man = dirty nasty perv

  43. inhumanely rich old man = dignified, mature middle class, poor old man = dirty nasty perv

    money is desireable. if a someone with a desireable charictaristic ($) hits on a grl, he is awesome. if he is undesireable (poor)he is a nasty perv.