A screengrab of Apoorva Mukhija latest YouTube video
| Photo Credit: YouTube/ The Rebel Kid
Influencer Apoorva Mukhija, known online as The Rebel Kid, has returned to YouTube after a months-long hiatus sparked by the India’s Got Latent controversy. Her latest video, “Till I Say It Is”, marks her first upload since the fallout, in which she addresses the wave of backlash and abuse she faced online.
The controversy began after a joke on the show involving YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia and a comment about parents and sex spiraled into political outrage. Multiple FIRs were filed against host Samay Raina, the show’s organisers, and panellists including Mukhija.
In her new video, the 23-year-old shares an account of the personal toll the incident took on her. She revealed she received rape threats, acid attack threats, and death threats. Despite apologising earlier, she reiterated her regret in the video. “I should have been more mindful, and I truly have learned my lesson,” she said.
Mukhija recalled the moment on the show that sparked her reaction: “The guy standing there made an extremely inappropriate comment about my vagina in front of a live audience… it came from genuine anger and the need to retaliate.” She clarified that her intent was never to harm but to stand up for herself.
Opening up further, Mukhija spoke about enduring abuse in a past relationship, being slut-shamed by family, and self-harming during her teenage years. “I used to live in a house that never felt like home for 17 years,” she said.
The video also touches on her fears about career damage. “It used to be my worst nightmare that one day I might become irrelevant,” she admitted, sharing how she lost brand deals, her home, and self-respect.
Despite the ordeal, she says a recent trip — where she attended a Sabrina Carpenter concert and visited the French Alps — helped her shift perspective. “I know this is what I’ve signed up for… but I was not ok with it,” she added.
On Tuesday, she returned to Instagram to post screenshots of hateful messages she’s received since the incident. “And that’s not even 1%,” she wrote.
Mukhija recently appeared in Netflix’s Nadaaniyan alongside Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor. As for Ranveer Allahbadia, he has since made a quiet return to social media.
Published – April 10, 2025 10:29 am IST