Salman Rushdie

• Padma Lakshmi is rooting for her ex-husband’s recovery.
• Salman Rushdie was stabbed during an event in New York earlier this week.
• His son says he has been taken off the ventilator and is able to say a few words.

Padma Lakshmi hopes that Salman Rushdie will get better.

The TV host wrote on Twitter on Sunday that she feels better now that she knows how Rushdie is doing after he was attacked and stabbed in upstate New York earlier this week.

“Glad to hear @SalmanRushdie is getting better after Friday’s nightmare,” tweeted Lakshmi, 51. “Worried and speechless, can finally take a deep breath. Now, let’s hope for a quick recovery.”

Relieved @SalmanRushdie is pulling through after Friday’s nightmare. Worried and wordless, can finally exhale. Now hoping for swift healing.

— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) August 14, 2022

Lakshmi’s comment about Rushdie, who is 75, came at the same time that the author’s son, Zafar Rushdie, talked to NBC News about his father’s condition in the hospital.

Salman “remains in critical condition,” Zafar said, adding, “We are very happy that he was able to say a few words yesterday after being taken off the ventilator and extra oxygen.”

“Even though his injuries will change the rest of his life, his usual feisty and defiant sense of humour is still there,” Zafar’s statement said. “We are so grateful to all the brave people in the crowd who rushed to his aid and gave him first aid, as well as to the police and doctors who helped him and to the people all over the world who have sent them love and support.”

“We ask for continued patience and privacy as his family gathers at his bedside to support and help him through this time,” he said.

New statement to NBC News from son of Salman Rushdie on his father’s condition. The author is now off the ventilator and has been able to say a few words, he says. pic.twitter.com/dlHIY9MSFg

— Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) August 14, 2022

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• David Brody witnessed the attack on Salman Rushdie at the Chautauqua Institution in Buffalo, New York.
• Rushdie is on a ventilator unable to speak and will likely lose one eye, his agent says.
• Authorities have detained Hadi Matar, 24, from New Jersey.

David Brody was on vacation in western New York. He was from Pittsburgh and wanted to go to an event at the Chautauqua Institution. “They always have a speaker at 10:45 a.m., and today’s speaker was Salman Rushdie,” he said.

He walked into the theatre right as the well-known author was being attacked. Brody says, “I was about to go through the gate when I heard this loud roar.” “At first, I thought it was someone greeting him, but then I heard that it wasn’t applause.”

Inside, a stage full of men were helping Rushdie, and police officers were taking care of the attacker. Rushdie is on a ventilator and can’t talk. His agent told The New York Times that Rushdie will probably lose one eye.

Hadi Matar, a 24-year-old man from New Jersey, has been held by the police for the attack.

The people in the theatre did not get upset. “Brody says, “Most people stayed there and sat down. No one was running. No one was scared. People sat there until they were told to leave.”

Within 10 to 12 minutes, a person in charge told everyone to leave in an orderly way and take their things with them. “Outside, people got together in small groups and held prayer or vigil meetings on the spot,” Brody says.

Brody says that they were broken up when everyone was told to spread out because officials were “locking down the area” and “police dogs were searching the grounds for bombs or anything suspicious.”

“Knowing Mr. Rushdie’s past,” says Brody, “I was surprised, but not completely shocked by the attack.” He has gotten a lot of death threats.”

Brody said that there isn’t much security at the Chautauqua Institution because it is a “very quiet, idyllic place.” “To get into the grounds or the amphitheatre, there are no metal detectors. It’s on a lake with many, many docks, “he said about what he saw. “So I guess I wasn’t surprised that someone could get in from that point of view.”

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