Twitter Is Loving Padma Lakshmi's Bold Statement On Feminism

Padma Lakshmi – "Top Chef" host, model, author, and activist has never been one to shy away from conversations surrounding female rights and representation. In a 2016 interview with The New York Times, Lakshmi said she is "absolutely" a feminist and that she wouldn't ever "date somebody who didn't consider himself a feminist, frankly." In a stirring 2020 essay for Teen Vogue, she discussed the harmful language often used towards females and provided a call to action against sexism. "We can change the cultural norms that allow disrespectful words to become part of the air we breathe," she wrote.

So it's no surprise that she used social media to share a powerful feminist message this morning, and Twitter is absolutely here for it. At the time of this writing, the tweet has already been liked over 500 times and received plenty of supportive replies. Here's what Lakshmi had to say.

On December 7th, Lakshmi shared a sentiment on Twitter that clearly resonated with her fans. Following a similar meme format that's been making its rounds across the internet (per The New York Times), Lakshmi tweeted, "The feminine urge to choose to start a family when the time is right for you." One replied, "Yes – If at all," to which Lakshmi responded with two "100" emojis. "Great words dear Paddy," another user said. Lakshmi has one daughter, Krishna, who she gave birth to at 39 after experiencing difficulties with endometriosis (via the Hindustan Times). 

Though not explicitly linked, the tweet comes at a time of historic arguments in the Supreme Court that could overturn Roe v. Wade, the country's landmark case that established the right to an abortion (via The New York Times). Twitter users not only applauded her statement but even shared their own takes on the topic." Starting a family can also mean friends, pets, and plants," one wrote. Another person remarked, "For me – never."