Padma Lakshmi Expresses Relief Over Ex-Husband Salman Rushdie's Recovery Following Scary Attack

Model and show host Padma Lakshmi recently gave an update concerning her ex-husband, Salman Rushdie's health. The show host and Salman married in 2004 after living together for five years and divorced in 2007.

In a shocking event on August 12, the author was attacked by an assailant while performing his duties as a guest speaker at a New York event. The attacker reportedly stabbed him over ten times from his face to his abdomen. The 75-year-old was eventually rescued by a state trooper and several people from the audience.

His son, Zafar Rushdie, spoke about the situation in place of the rest of the family and thanked the audience for their help. Lakshmi, Salman's ex and fourth wife, also spoke about his recovery and prayed for "swift healing."

Lakshmi just conveyed her well wishes to Rushdie, her ex-husband. The author was the victim of a terrifying attack while giving a speech at an event held in upstate New York.

On August 14, the 51-year-old posted an update on Twitter concerning how Salman was faring, revealing that the 75-year-old was pulling through. "Relieved @SalmanSalman is pulling through after Friday's nightmare. Worried and wordless, can finally exhale. Now hoping for swift healing," she wrote.

The author's agent, Andrew Wylie, spoke to E! News around when Lakshmi posted, revealing that Salman was currently on his way to recovery. The agent added, "It will be long; the injuries are severe, but his condition is headed in the right direction."

Salman's son, Zafar, spoke about the issue on behalf of the rest of the family and shared more detailed information concerning the patriarch's recovery status. The 42-year-old wrote, "My father remains in critical condition in hospital receiving extensive ongoing medical treatment."

Zafar continued, "We are extremely relieved that yesterday he was taken off the ventilator and additional oxygen, and he was able to say a few words. Though his life-changing injuries are severe, his usual feisty & defiant sense of humour remains intact."

He went on to thank the audience at the event, all of whom helped apprehend the suspect and administer first aid to the author. The 42-year-old concluded by asking for "patience and privacy" in the family's trying time.

Salman went to an event held at the New York Chautauqua Institute in Chautauqua without knowing that it would bring him near death. The 75-year-old was attacked by a man who spectators described was dressed in black while he was giving his speech on stage.

The assailant reportedly "ran up onto the stage" and stabbed the author in his face, neck, chest, and abdomen a total of 12 times. Salman was eventually airlifted to the hospital for immediate medical treatment, and the male attacker was apprehended and charged with assault and attempted murder.

The suspect was apprehended by a state trooper on site, which was aided by the staff of the institution and guests around. They initially believed the attack was a stunt to show that the author was still surrounded by controversy; however, they soon discovered that it wasn't so.

While talking to The New York Times, the author's agent revealed that he was currently on a ventilator and was yet to speak. Wylie explained, "Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed, and his liver was stabbed and damaged."

The assailant is a New Jersey man named Hadi Matar. After appearing in court, he pled not guilty to both charges of second-degree assault and second-degree attempted murder. The suspect's attorney, Nathaniel L. Barone II, told E! News that the Preliminary Hearing was scheduled for August 19, 2022, and they would ensure Matar's constitutional rights were exercised.

He said, "Mr. Matar benefits from the presumption of innocence, a fair trial, and due process, as does every individual in our country. We look forward to the scheduled Preliminary Hearing on August 19, 2022, and having the opportunity to aggressively exercise Mr. Matar's constitutional rights."

Before the attack, Salman lived in seclusion for many years after an order for his death was made in 1989. After the author released his novel "The Satanic Verses," Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini sent out a "fatwa" which ordered Muslims to kill him due to the blasphemous nature of his novel.

Investigations are still ongoing concerning the case; however, a preliminary law enforcement review of the suspect, Matar's social accounts revealed that he was a Shia extremist sympathizer and an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps causes supporter.