Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Padma Lakshmi Destroys 'Racist' Column That Says Indian Food Is 'Based Entirely On One Spice'

Padma Lakshmi Destroys 'Racist' Column That Says Indian Food Is 'Based Entirely On One Spice'
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Padma Lakshmi, actress, model, Top Chef host and author, came down on Gene Weingarten for disrespecting Indian culture and cuisine saying it's "based entirely on one spice."

Weingarten's opinion column is generally humorous.


This week, The Washington Post column titled "You Can't Make Me Eat These Foods" focused on Weingarten's distaste for certain foods and ingredients, like sweet pickles and balsamic vinegar.

However, he also wrote Indian foods are "the only ethnic cuisine in the world insanely based entirely on one spice."

He continued:

"If you think Indian curries taste like something that could knock a vulture off a meat wagon, you do not like Indian food."
"I don't get it, as a culinary principle."

When Padma Lakshmi read the article, she aired her problems with it on Instagram and Twitter.

The Instagram caption read:

"There is truly no need for something like this to be published in 2021 (or ever)."
"It's racist and lazy at best."
"My issue is not this person's performative contrarianism (although it is tedious) or that he didn't enjoy the Indian cuisines he's tasted."
"My problem is in this attempt at a comedic piece he's actually just regurgitating old colonizer tropes, gleefully reducing the culture and country of 1.3 billion people to a (frankly) weak punchline- and that the @washingtonpost published it."


Lakshmi called out The Washington Post for even approving this to be published.


Her tweet garnered the attention of thousands.








@bessbell/Twitter




Lawyer Meena Harris, niece of Vice President Kamala Harris, and writer/actor Mindy Kaling chimed in on Weingarten's piece as well.



Since the immense backlash, The Washington Post has made a correction to the article.

At the top of the column it reads:

"A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Indian cuisine is based on one spice, curry, and that Indian food is made up only of curries, types of stew."
"In fact, India's vastly diverse cuisines use many spice blends and include many other types of dishes."
"The article has been corrected."

Someone in Lakshmi's comments pointed out Weingarten's since deleted tweet.


He attempted an apology tweet as well.


It's hard to say if this latest attempt was genuine or not.

More from Trending

People Divulge The Best Money-Saving Hacks They've Picked Up

Money makes the world go around.

And in this day and age, finding ways to hold onto every cent of it feels imperative.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pamela Hayden; Milhouse from 'The Simpsons'
Amy Graves/Getty Images for Kash Hovey; Fox

'The Simpsons' Star Opens Up About Why She's Leaving The Iconic TV Show After 35 Seasons

After 35 seasons of performing as Milhouse and other side characters on The Simpsons, Pamela Hayden announced her retirement.

She will leave her role behind after the latest "Treehouse of Horror" episode, "Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes."

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Adele giving speech
@PopBase/X, @chiara297/TikTok

Adele Gets Emotional During Final Vegas Residency Concert Before Cracking Hilarious Joke

British music sensation Adele wrapped up her Las Vegas residency on November 23 after two years of emotional performances and memorable highlights including a tearful interaction with Celine Dion.

To commemorate the curtain coming down on Weekends with Adele at the Colosseum in Caesar's Palace, which started in January 2022, the "Set Fire to the Rain" singer gave a poignant speech that ended in laughter.

Keep ReadingShow less
Glen Powell Announces Epic Prize For Lookalike Contest Winner Judged By His Own Mom
@ChristineRose01/X; @PopCrave/X

Glen Powell Announces Epic Prize For Lookalike Contest Winner Judged By His Own Mom

Glen Powell put a fun spin on a lookalike contest in Austin, Texas.

Though Powell couldn’t attend since he’s filming The Running Man in the U.K., his mother and aunt judged the event.

Keep ReadingShow less
Aubrey Plaza and Adam Scott from 'Parks and Recreation"
NBC

Adam Scott Reveals Hilarious Note Aubrey Plaza Gave Him When He Joined 'Parks & Rec'

Adam Scott recalled the hilariously unsettling way fellow Parks and Recreation actor Aubrey Plaza greeted him when he officially joined the NBC comedy series cast in 2010.

His anecdote was featured in a new book by Jim O'Heir, who played Jerry on the show, called Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation.

Keep ReadingShow less