Internet sensation, Apoorva Mukhija, aka 'The Rebel Kid', makes an emotional comeback after months of silence following the explosive 'India's Got Latent' controversy.
Two months have passed since Ranveer Allahbadia and Apoorva Mukhija's controversial remarks stirred public uproar surrounding Samay Raina’s show, India’s Got Latent (IGL). After weeks of turmoil and summons, influencer Apoorva Mukhija, aka The Rebel Kid, has broken her silence with a YouTube video in which she addresses the controversial incident.
For those unaware, in February 2025, Apoorva appeared on the panel of judges on India’s Got Latent alongside YouTuber-podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, comedians Ashish Chanchalani, Jaspreet Singh, and the show's host, Samay Raina. Apoorva and Ranveer faced severe backlash after a viral moment on the show in which she clapped back at a vulgar remark made by a male contestant.
On April 9, 2025, Apoorva uploaded a video on her YouTube channel, following a post on her Instagram informing her followers about the same. In the video, Apoorva revisited that moment and made it clear. Addressing her remarks, Apoorva said:
“I didn’t say it to go viral or be savage. That wasn’t a punchline. It came from a place of pure anger. My intent was never to hurt anyone—except maybe that one man’s ego. But I now understand that my words may have hurt others. I never meant to. I create content to entertain, to make people laugh. I’ve learned my lesson, and I promise I will do better.”
Later in the video, the 23-year-old influencer finally addressed why she responded sharply to the male contestant, whose comment about women had been labelled as ‘lewd’. While the contestant was not held accountable for his inappropriate remark, Apoorva, being a well-known social media personality, faced massive public backlash for her reaction. What began as an on-the-spot reaction spiralled into nationwide outrage, legal action, and horrifying online abuse, including rape, acid attack, and death threats. In both her Instagram post and video, The Rebel Kid shared screenshots of hundreds of threatening messages and comments, including rape and death threats, that she received following the IGL controversy.
Apoorva didn’t hold back from sharing the real toll the controversy took on her life, from brand deals collapsing to being slut-shamed by relatives and chased by paparazzi to the police station. The 23-year-old could not control her tears as she revealed how an FIR filed against her had shattered her peace, and even more so, as her parents also got dragged into the storm. She shared how trolls even targeted her mother’s social media with threats.
Despite all this, Apoorva’s family stood firmly by her side. In her video, the influencer shared how a text from her father helped her face the storm. She shared:
“My father messaged me saying, ‘Kuch bhi ho jaye, main tere saath hoon.’ That message kept me going.”
Apoorva’s raw and heartfelt video has received an outpouring of support across social media. While some continue to scrutinise her past remarks, many applauded her for taking accountability, addressing the hate with honesty, and reclaiming her narrative.
What is your take on Apoorva Mukhija’s remarks on India’s Got Latent?
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