The Rebel Kid Apoorva Mukhija on her father's reassuring message amid India's Got Latent ‘fiasco': ‘Even my closest, ‘wokest' friends didn't write that'

Indian Express

22-05-2025

The Rebel Kid, aka Apoorva Mukhija, who found herself at the center of India's Got Latent 'fiasco', has opened up about how her family has been standing by her.
'It is not that my father said anything wrong. I think there was so much gap in how he communicated and how I saw things. When this entire fiasco happened, it was all over the news, and I didn't have the guts to tell my parents that something like this had happened. What do I tell them? Gaali de di? (Like I swore, and which is why all this is happening),' said Apoorva in a conversation with Yuvaa.
She, however, added that her father's message uplifted her spirits. 'My dad texted me a message that read, No matter what happens, I'm always standing with you. Now, all of what happened in the past doesn't matter. Because even my closest, 'wokest' friends didn't write that. So, now I can't say anything bad about my dad. He's just taken my content away from me,' said an overwhelmed Apoorva.
The social media influencer said she and her mother also received rape threats and were s*ut-shamed after which she removed all Instagram posts before restoring them.
Taking a leaf out of her admission, let's explore how a few words of a positive, trusting message from a close one can help amid a crisis.
Sometimes, that is all it takes to hold someone from falling apart. 'Not an explanation. Not advice. Just a reminder of their truth when the world is screaming otherwise,' said Delnna Rrajesh, psychotherapist, healer, and life coach.
Delnna shared that she has witnessed people in the eye of breakdowns like career collapses, media attacks, heartbreak, and shame. 'What saved them wasn't logic. It was love that remained when everything else left. In moments of crisis, your nervous system goes into panic. Identity feels threatened—the future blurs. You forget your voice. And in that noise, if even one person whispers, 'You are not alone,' your healing begins,' added Delnna.
Here's what to remember if someone you love needs you.
Speak presence, not perfection
Don't wait to say the right thing. Say the real thing. 'I may not understand it all, but I'm here.'
Remind them of their wholeness
A crisis can make someone believe they are broken or ruined. 'Remind them that no external event can erase their worth,' shared Delnna.
Validate, don't analyse
Avoid saying, 'This will pass,' or 'At least…' Instead, name what they're feeling. 'I can imagine how heavy this feels. I'm with you in it.'
Offer grounding, not fixes
Send a voice note. A song. A message that says, 'You don't need to respond. Just know you are not alone today.' It's not about solving. It's about soothing, Delnna shared.
Say it again. And again.
In pain, people forget. They spiral. 'Repetition is healing. Repeat your love until it becomes louder than their shame,' shared Delnna.