Social media influencer Apoorva Mukhija, popularly known as The Rebel Kid, has made her return to the public eye with an emotional YouTube video, weeks after facing immense backlash following her appearance on India’s Got Latent.
The controversy, which stemmed from a vulgar and distasteful question about incest posed by YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia on Samay Raina’s show, triggered a wave of outrage and legal action.
Apoorva, a panellist on the show, was named in police reports filed across India and became a target of online hate.
In her heartfelt video titled Till I Say It Is, Apoorva addressed the aftermath of the incident and shared a candid look into the personal trauma she endured during and after the controversy, reported the Hindustan Times.
A contestant made an inappropriate comment about Apoorva’s private parts, to which she retorted to set him straight. The retort was not received well by the public, specifically male audiences.
Recalling the controversial moment, she said: “The guy standing there made an extremely inappropriate comment about my vagina in front of a live audience. Usually, you’d expect that kind of remark on social media. But to hear it in public was shocking.”
She explained that her response wasn’t meant to be “funny” or “savage”, but came from a place of anger and retaliation.
“I never intended to hurt anyone – except maybe that man’s ego,” she admitted, before acknowledging that her words may have unintentionally offended others. “I’ve learnt my lesson, and I promise to be better going forward.”
She also issued a public apology: “I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I’m sincerely sorry if I’ve hurt your sentiments.”
Beyond the controversy, the 23-year-old opened up about her harrowing personal struggles, reported The Mint.
In a raw and emotional segment, she spoke about being slut-shamed by relatives, facing domestic abuse, and battling mental health issues including self-harm.
“I have cried a lot of sleepless nights in a house that never felt like home for 17 years… I’ve been hit by someone who promised to protect me,” she revealed. “I thought it was over so many times… but it isn’t.”
Apoorva also highlighted the intensity of online hate, sharing screenshots of acid attack and rape threats she received after the incident.
“And that’s not even one per cent,” she wrote on Instagram in a recent post. Despite the toxic backlash and losing brand deals and personal relationships, she expressed gratitude to those who supported her privately.
She concluded the video by reflecting on the unexpected downfall she faced. “It was my worst nightmare to become irrelevant.”
Apoorva’s video has since received an outpouring of support from fans and fellow creators, with many commending her for her courage, honesty, and vulnerability.
On the legal front, the India’s Got Latent episode led to widespread criticism, multiple police reports, and questioning of several influencers, including Apoorva, Samay Raina, Ranveer Allahbadia, Ashish Chanchlani and others.
