Apoorva Mukhija reveals she spoke to Rhea Chakraborty after India’s Got Latent controversy, questions: ‘Why was there no outrage for what he said?’ – The Times of India

Instagram influencer and content creator Apoorva Mukhija, popularly known as ‘The Rebel Kid’ to her 3 million followers, has finally spoken out about the backlash she received following her appearance on Samay Raina‘s controversial episode of India’s Got Latent. A viral clip featuring Apoorva where she responded to a sexist comment with an equally provocative comeback which drew laughter from the live audience but rage from online viewers.
‘Why was there no outrage for what he said?’
In the now-viral moment, a contestant crudely asked, “Vagina mein sensation khatam ho gaya hai?” Apoorva fired back, “Kabhi vagina dekhi hai maa se nikalne ke baad?” Her line received cheers in the studio but ignited criticism online.
In an interview with Yuvaa, Apoorva reflected, “Is this the first time in this country when there hasn’t been outrage against a man who did a woman wrong? I was really angry that the news didn’t focus on what he said. But I realised—he’s just a man, and I’m the Rebel Kid. I am the TRP. I’m the thumbnail. He’s a nobody.”
‘I had four bouncers with me, even at the airport’
The days that followed were not just emotionally taxing, they were dangerous. “Ganesh didn’t let me step out without four bouncers and a driver,” she shared. “Even at the airport, I had a bouncer with me. I couldn’t go back home for six-seven days because people knew my address. I was getting pictures of my building saying, ‘We know where you live.’”
She added, “I cried every day. My mooh-boli sister Suman Didi was supposed to attend a wedding, but I had to cancel a fake award show appearance and rush back from Jaipur to Delhi. I was terrified.”
‘I spoke to Rhea Chakraborty’
Apoorva said she sought comfort from someone who had also been through a brutal media trial, actor Rhea Chakraborty. “I spoke to her on a video call for an hour. She got it. She knew what I was going through.”
Initially, Apoorva wanted to address everything head-on. “I talk about everything, right?” she said. “But people told me—if you speak now, they’ll twist your words, and it’ll start another media cycle. I had no choice but to stay silent.”
‘And suddenly, it was all gone’
What hurt more than the hate was the silence that followed. “I didn’t realise how much I loved working until I couldn’t. I hadn’t taken a day off in years—always vlogging, creating, thinking of brand posts. And suddenly, it was all gone,” she said.
“I lost so much business. Brands said it wasn’t a good time to be associated. In one second, everything disappeared.”

‘I realised I’d been prioritising everything wrong’
While the backlash shook her, it also brought clarity. “I’ve always been anxious—thinking people are with me for the wrong reasons. And some of that turned out to be true,” she admitted.

“But the two or three people who stuck by me—they made me believe in friendship again. I realised I’d been prioritising everything wrong. I know now who I can trust blindly. I’ll build a career again. It’s okay. It’s nothing else.”