Apoorva Mukhija Breaks Silence Amid ‘India’s Got Latent’ Controversy
Social media influencer and actress Apoorva Mukhija, also known as “The Rebel Kid,” has spoken out for the first time since the controversy surrounding her appearance on India’s Got Latent. On April 8, exactly two months after the backlash began, Mukhija shared a series of Instagram posts revealing the scale of online abuse she has faced, including threats of acid attacks, rape, and death.
Her post began with a trigger warning and included 19 slides of screenshots showcasing hateful comments and messages. Among the abusive remarks were accusations of attention-seeking behavior and derogatory language. Captioning the post, she wrote, “And that’s not even 1%.” In a follow-up post, she added, “Don’t take away the story from the storyteller.”
The controversy erupted in February after an episode of India’s Got Latent featured Mukhija asking a contestant an explicit question and laughing at another panelist’s objectionable remark. The episode sparked outrage, leading to multiple FIRs against Mukhija and her co-panelists—Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina, and Ashish Chanchlani. The episode was subsequently removed from YouTube, and Raina deleted all episodes of the show.
Mukhija faced intense public scrutiny and legal challenges. She was mobbed while visiting the Mumbai Police to record her statement. In her defense, she clarified that the show encouraged open conversations and was unscripted. However, the backlash led to further consequences: she unfollowed everyone on Instagram and deleted all her posts in early April.
Mukhija’s career has also taken a hit amid the controversy. She was removed as an ambassador for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards following threats from fringe groups like Karni Sena. Despite these challenges, reports suggest she may be in talks for a new reality show.