Padma Lakshmi Defends Decision To Film in Houston For Upcoming 'Top Chef' Season

Padma Lakshmi is speaking out about the upcoming season of Top Chef, which is going to be filmed in Houston, Texas.

The announcement from Bravo was revealed earlier this week, when the Anti-Abortion Law went into affect in the state.

In a series of tweets, Padma, the host of the reality competition series, addressed the backlash the show was getting because of it.

Click inside to read what Padma shared about the setting of the upcoming season of Top Chef…

Taking to social media, Padma defended the decision to set the season in Houston.

“Texans are up against so much right now- a hateful anti-abortion bill, erasure of voting rights, and a humanitarian & Constitutional crisis at the border. Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the U.S. Its govt & the majority of its ppl oppose @GovAbbott‘s heinous bills,” she wrote. “Our show highlights the small businesses that hire the very same women, BIPOC ppl & low-income folks that these laws harm most.”

Padma continued, “Our show highlights the small businesses that hire the very same women, BIPOC ppl & low-income folks that these laws harm most. Only 11% of Americans believe that abortion should be illegal. The govt doesn’t have the right to force ppl to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term.”

The upcoming 19th season of Top Chef will mark the fourth time the show would film in the state.

Earlier this year, the most recent winner of the show was involved in a scandal.