Content creator and influencer Apoorva Mukhija, popularly known as The Rebel Kid, has broken her silence following the massive backlash she faced after appearing on an episode of comedian Samay Raina’s show ‘India’s Got Latent’. In a YouTube video, Apoorva recounted her experience on the now-removed episode, reflected on her remarks, and addressed the aftermath, which included rape threats, acid attack threats, and severe online trolling.
Apoorva was part of the judging panel on the controversial episode that triggered national outrage after co-panelist Ranveer Allahbadia’s comments drew flak. The backlash was swift and severe, resulting in FIRs against multiple individuals involved, and an official investigation was launched. The episode was later taken down from YouTube.
Apoorva says she should have been mindful of her words
In the video, Apoorva began by acknowledging the severity of the incident. She recalled being advised to stay silent and let the storm pass, but chose instead to speak out. Apoorva shared that she was first approached by Samay Raina in August 2024 to appear on his show, and filming took place in November.
Detailing her initial nervousness during the long shoot, she said, “It was a 6-7 hour long shoot and there was a 30 minute break in the middle. So in the first half, I didn’t say anything. I just made one joke about being a computer science engineer who doesn’t speak to civil engineering students. That’s it. I was sitting there and freaking out that I can’t do this. I texted my manager that I don’t want to be here and she told me that don’t overthink, be yourself.”
She shared how overwhelmed she felt and described having a panic attack during the break. “Samay sat down with me and told me that ‘Apurva, I also go through this kind of pressure that I will have to be funny but it’s okay, no one is expecting you to be funny, you are not a stand-up comic, you are just an influencer, influencers are not supposed to be funny,” she said.
Things escalated in the second half of the shoot when a contestant began making inappropriate comments. Apoorva recalled, “Then this boy goes to on to say things about my vagina in front of everybody… it genuinely came from anger and retaliation. My intention wasn’t to hurt anyone, except for that guy’s ego.”
Apoorva apologises
The influencer issued a sincere apology during the video: “Irrespective of my intention, I have hurt a lot of people and that is honestly the last thing I want to do… I should have been more mindful of my words but I have learnt my lesson and I promise I will do better going forward. I just hope you guys can forgive me and I am very sorry if I hurt your sentiments.”
She also admitted that the jokes she made during the show were not in good taste. “After this, I made a couple of more jokes and they also are in very bad taste… I am literally in your team. I don’t know why I was saying these random things just to seem cool but I am very sorry.”
Also read: Hania Aamir Condemns Online Abuse Faced By Apoorva Mukhija: ‘A Separate Place In Hell’
Apoorva on what followed after
When the episode aired in February, the fallout was swift. Apoorva recalled being flooded with hate, and soon learned about multiple FIRs filed against her. She suspected coordinated trolling on social media: “It is impossible for so many humans to tweet the same thing unless and until somebody is asking them to tweet the same thing.”
The situation escalated to a point where her own safety was at risk. Her manager advised her not to return home because people knew where she lived. “I started reading my DMs and they were all graphic of how people want to rape me, throw acid and stuff like that,” she shared.
Apoorva described her visit to the police station to record her statement as traumatic. “I cried so much” she said, adding that the presence and behaviour of the paparazzi made the experience “dehumanising.”
Her family also suffered collateral damage. Trolls discovered her mother’s social media and left abusive comments. As a result, her mother’s blood pressure spiked. “I deserve this because I did this. My parents did not deserve this,” she added.
Apoorva made it clear she is not looking to gain sympathy or profit from the ordeal. She announced that the proceeds from her video would go toward a meaningful cause. “I will donate the earnings from this video to an NGO that helps acid attack victims, rape victims and victims of domestic violence,” she said.
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