EXCLUSIVE: Padma Lakshmi, 53, holds hands with blackish creator Kenya Barris, 49, in NYC… a year after he split from wife of 20 years for THIRD time

Padma Lakshmi was seen holding hands with blackish creator Kenya Barris while crossing a street in New York City on Sunday.

The 53-year-old Top Chef star appeared to be more than friends with the 49-year-old writer and producer as she never left his side while they were on their way to McNally Jackson Bookstore in the SoHo neighborhood.

They were also seen walking past vendors as they chatted, and he looked at her cell phone while she held it up by the curb. 

The former fashion model wore a cream-colored jacket, fitted black slacks and coral scarf with white go-go style short boots for a mod look while Barris was more casual in an orange puffy jacket, blue sweater and green camo slacks that he paired with white sneakers.

Padma has been single for the past couple of years after splitting from poet Terrance Hayes in November 2021.

And Kenya is single again after splitting from his wife of 20 years, Dr. Rania ‘Rainbow Edwards-Barris (who is portrayed on blackish by Tracee Ellis Ross), for the third time in June 2022.

Love connection? Padma Lakshmi was seen holding hands with blackish creator Kenya Barris while crossing a street in New York City on Sunday

Intimate on the sidewalk: The 53-year-old Top Chef star appeared to be more than friends with the 49-year-old writer and producer as she never left his side while they were on their way to McNally Jackson Bookstore in the SoHo neighborhood

In step with each other: They were also seen walking passed vendors as they chatted

A representative for Lakshmi could not immediately be reached for comment.

Both Padma and Kenya wore designer sunglasses. She had on orange tinted aviators with a gold rim while he modeled black shades. And both displayed jewelry: she was seen with a gold watch while he had necklaces on and diamond earrings.

They held hands when they crossed the street but when on the sidewalk they let go and she looked at her cell phone as he snuck a glance.

Both appear to be single. 

Kenya has been on and off with his wife for years. He filed for divorce from Dr. Rania ‘Rainbow’ Barris, an anesthesiologist in Los Angeles, in 2014 but withdrew the petition a year later.

She then filed in August 2019 following 20 years of marriage.

The Barris’ have children; Lola, Beau, Kass and Bronx. They have two other children who are over the age of 18.

In court documents, Kenya listed the reason for the divorce was ‘irreconcilable differences’ and he requested joint legal and physical custody of their kids.

Rainbow did not respond to Kenya’s divorce in court.

At the time Kenya spoke to T.I. on his podcast expediTIously about the divorce. He said, ‘I’m going through a divorce right now. Who knows what’s going to happen with that.’

Touchy feely: The former fashion model wore a cream-colored jacket, fitted black slacks and coral scarf with white go-go style boots for a mod look

His attire: Barris was more casual in an orange puffy jacket, blue sweater and green camo slacks that he paired with white sneakers that looked fresh out of the box

The mogul added, ‘It is part of life. When I was growing up, we didn’t have—I never saw Cliff and Clair [Huxtable] argue. If you look at sitcoms and our stories, we’re supposed to be okay. But 52 percent of marriages don’t work. It is the toughest thing I’ve ever been through in my life.’

Kenya continued, ‘We didn’t know about therapy or really understand it. We didn’t know about really having the church or other married friends that would have given us the skeleton to make it in another sort of way. 

‘So I feel like talking about that to a generation of people who might be going through what I’m going through, it makes them say, Hey, there’s other people out there like me. Maybe we can make it. Maybe we can’t. I just want to be as real with my s*** as possible.

The divorce was filed about a year after Kenya signed a $100 million deal with Netflix.

According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Kenya filed a request for dismissal of his divorce in May 2020.

But they were on the outs again roughly two years later.

In June 2022, he filed for divorce in LA Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences, according to the Los Angeles times.

He listed their date of separation as September 2020.

It takes two: Padma has been single for the past couple of years after splitting from poet Terrance Hayes in November 2021. And Kenya is single again after splitting from his wife of 20 years, Dr. Rania ‘Rainbow Edwards-Barris (who is portrayed on blackish by Tracee Ellis Ross), for the third time in June 2022

Chic chick in the city: Padma wore designer sunglasses. She had on orange tinted aviators with a gold rim. And she added a gold watch

Young love: The dark-haired looker was married to controversial author Salman Rushdie from 2004 until 2007. Seen in 2004

The #blackAF creator and star is seeking joint physical and legal custody of the kids, as well as spousal support payable to his ex.

Lakshmi has a rich romantic life.

The dark-haired looker was married to controversial author Salman Rushdie from 2004 until 2007.

She then was with Adam Dell from 2007 until 2021, on and off. Together they have teen daughter Krishna Thea, 14.

The cover girl was linked to Nur Khan, dated Theodore Forstmann from 2009 until 2011, then dated Vikram Chatwal from 2012 to 2013.

In 2014 the chef was tied to Richard Gere, then in 2021 she was reportedly with Terrance Hayes. In 2022 there was talk she romanced actor Michael B Jordan.

In June 2021 she was romantically linked to poet and MacArthur fellowship recipient Terrance Hayes. They had been seen kissing and holding hands in New York City during the summer of 2021, but it was short lived. 

In November 2021 she told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live that she was single.

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