Latest news with #TheRebelKid
News18
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Apoorva Mukhija Says Society ‘Hates' Seeing Women Happy: ‘CarryMinati Abuses…'
Last Updated: Apoorva Mukhija aka The Rebel Kid spoke about selective hatred, and said that society hates seeing women who live life on their own terms. Apoorva Mukhija, also known as The Rebel Kid, faced significant backlash after a video of her confronting a contestant during a controversial episode of Samay Raina's show, India's Got Latent, went viral. In a recent interview with Yuvaa, Apoorva addressed the backlash and discussed the 'selective hatred' directed at women who live independently. She expressed disappointment that society didn't care to question the contestant whose misogynistic comments provoked her reaction. Citing CarryMinati as an example, she stated that his use of abusive language is never an issue, while it becomes a significant problem when a woman does the same. Apoorva Mukhija said, 'I used to think that it is 2024. I didn't believe that gender inequality and pay parity was still an issue until I grew up. I realised they were 100% right. Society as a whole, women and men, both included, hate seeing a woman be themselves. They hate to see you be happy, they hate to see you financially independent, they hate to see you happy with or without a partner. I started rebelling as a child against my father's rules, but that was just a small portion of it. Today, I am rebelling against society." She criticised society's tendency to label women, highlighting a double standard. She pointed out that no one criticises her male friends who drink every day and post about it on Instagram, yet it is perceived as problematic when a woman does the same. 'CarryMinati abuses and it is never an issue, but if I abuse, it becomes an issue," she said. Furthermore, The Rebel Kid also pointed out that such a large-scale media trial hasn't been seen before in the creator industry, even though similar instances have occurred in Bollywood. She gave a shoutout to Rhea Chakraborty, and revealed that she talked to the Bollywood actress for an hour about the controversy. For the unversed, Rhea also faced a media trial after Sushant Singh Rajput's death in 2020. 'We have not seen a media trial at this scale. Creator industry mein. We have seen Bollywood industry mein. Shoutout Rhea Chakraborty. I spoke to her also for an hour. My initial response was 'I want to talk about it', because Apoorva talks about everything. But everyone around me said, 'You cannot open your mouth, it'll start another media cycle for five more days. They'll take just one line from what you said, run it on the news, and use it against you. You can't do it.' The only option I had was to stay silent," she said. First Published:
Economic Times
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Tees that talk: Homegrown brands add masala to messagewear
Last month, influencer Apoorva Mukhija aka The Rebel Kid made her first appearance after the controversial India's Got Latent episode, where she was on a panel of judges when an offensive joke was made by guest Ranveer Allahbadia. In a five-second video posted on her Instagram account, she greeted her 3.7 million followers, with a caption pointing to an explanatory video on her YouTube, while wearing a white bandeau top that read, 'Stay Feral'. ADVERTISEMENT It was not the first time a slogan tee was used to drive home a point. Back in January 2023, Rhode founder Hailey Bieber wore a 'Nepo Baby' crop top after New York Magazine's cover on the topic. The same slogan was worn by filmmaker Karan Johar—often called the godfather of Bollywood's nepo babies—in January 2025, while cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal sported a 'Be Your Own Sugar Daddy' tee in the middle of his divorce from Dhanashree Verma. Apoorva Uniyal of homegrown fashion label Mixxd says slogan tees have become extensions of our digital personas: 'We are seeing fashion being used to reclaim narratives, challenge labels and express individ uality. It's the most wearable form of micro-activism.' Mixxd has only one slogan tee shirt but it's their bestseller: the 'Namaste Bitches' tee, which is not for the faint of heart. That is always the case with slogan tees, says Pranav Misra, cofounder of homegrown unisex fashion brand Huemn. Its current bestseller has 'Everyone Sucks' in bold print. 'If you are wearing that bold text across your chest, it is a reflection of your personality. It introduces you before you even open your mouth,' says Misra, who calls these tees a deliberate choice. He says text and design depend on the messaging they want. 'Everyone Sucks' connects with a lot of people but works better as text. BORN TO REBEL The current slogan tees are very different from those of the past, says fashion con sultant and writer Varun Rana. The long and rebellious past of slogan tees arguably started in the US in 1948 when Republican presidential candidate Thomas E Dewey had T-shirts emblazoned with 'Dew it with Dewey'. ADVERTISEMENT It turned clothing into a billboard. It democratised messaging: anyone could wear a political stance, a joke, or a belief right across their chest And it was put to good use: from anti-war movements to peace slogans in the 1970s to political statements like 'Choose Life' in the 1980s. Now, says Rana, it's more revealing of your personal self: 'You find slogan tees for literally any kind of thought or feeling you may have. And you can print your own tees for as little as Rs 300.' He adds, 'Slogan tees are always in fashion. The kind of world we live in today, what's happening in our country and because of social media, there are a lot of feelings out there, and if you give everybody a chance to express those feelings, they will do so.' And the tee is the medium of choice. Uniyal says that due to an overload of microtrends on social media, consumers are carving out a sense of personal style that feels authentic. She says, 'Indian audiences are not holding back—from cheeky lines to bold statements and Indianised phrases, people are proudly wearing their personalities, opinions and humour.' Misra says people want to wear their opinion on their sleeves. In 2020, actor Rhea Chakraborty walked into the office of the Narcotics Control Bureau, during the investigation and furore related to Sushant Singh Rajput's death, wearing a tee that said: 'Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Let's Smash the Patriarchy, Me and You.' ADVERTISEMENT In 2018, US First Lady Melania Trump wore a jacket with the slogan 'I Really Don't Care, Do U?' while visiting a migrant children's shelter, and in 2017, actor Anuskha Sharma wore the Dior tee 'We Should All Be Feminists'. Even luxury designers have come onboard. In 2017, Prabal Gurung had models walk the ramp with tees reading, 'The Future is Female' and 'I Am an Immigrant'. Last year Loewe's 'I Told Ya' tees were all the rage after Zendaya wore it in Challengers. Early this year, Sabyasachi marked his 25 years' show with slogan tees in his trademark maximalist style with messages like 'Cat Lady', 'Dog Dad' and 'All Dressed Up Nowhere to Go'. Vedang Patel, cofounder of homegrown merch and fashion label The Souled Store (TSS), says the consumer is now demanding bold, witty and desifirst designs that spark conversation and connection. ADVERTISEMENT He says, 'Today, slogan tees are driven by nostalgia, pop culture and a renewed desire for selfexpression.' Lines from Bollywood like 'Control Uday'and 'Yeh Baburao ka Style Hai' are huge hits. TSS' best sellers often tap Bollywood, cricket and meme culture. GEN NO BARWhile Gen Z and millennials are driving the trend, celebrity stylist Isha Bhansali says there's a slogan tee for every generation. She points to the Nor Black Nor White (NBNW) T-shirt sported by Zeenat Aman with the word 'Aunty' on it. ADVERTISEMENT Recently, internet's favourite daddy Pedro Pascal wore a tee, 'Protect the Dolls', created by designer Conner Ives, to a red carpet. Misra says the bottom line for picking a slogan tee is to wear a thought you can get behind. Bhansali agrees: 'A slogan tee's shelf life is as long as you believe in what's written on it.' Patel says while slogan tees make 2% of their total T-shirt sales, the demand is coming from not just tier-1 but tier-2 and tier-3 cities as well. Indie brands like NBNW and Hate Copy work on pop culture designs that use Indian craftsmanship with messages that mirror desi lifestyle. Brands like The Right Feel pay homage to Indian art and film subculture with Hindi words like 'Pyaar' or 'Ishq' on MY LANGUAGE Patel says regional languages, pop culture and local slang play a massive role in shaping designs. He adds, 'There's a clear shift: consumers now want tees that speak their language, both literally and culturally.' He has noticed a strong demand for slogans in Hindi in tier-2 and -3 cities. 'It's all about authenticity—people want to wear what feels real to them,' he says. Uniyal agrees and says that people want to embrace their roots—whether it's through language, identity, or hyper-local culture Bhansali is a fan of cheeky tees and ones with self-deprecating humour. She suggests a fusion look for styling. Women can pair it with salwars or a flared skirt, and men can wear it under a suit or with pleated trousers. But is it for all ages? In an online guide on on graphic tees for 'older men', stylist Peter Nguyen came up with the 'The Museum Rule'. His advice: look at the graphic and ask yourself, 'Could this image be framed and hung in a museum?' If the answer is yes, it's a more sophisticated, 'grown-up' graphic. As Uniyal says, 'Slogans spark a reaction, be it a smirk, a nod, or a moment of 'That's so me.' It's less noise, more impact.' The tees are talking and we are part of the conversation. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tees that talk: Homegrown brands add masala to messagewear
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Last month, influencer Apoorva Mukhija aka The Rebel Kid made her first appearance after the controversial India's Got Latent episode, where she was on a panel of judges when an offensive joke was made by guest Ranveer Allahbadia. In a five-second video posted on her Instagram account, she greeted her 3.7 million followers, with a caption pointing to an explanatory video on her YouTube, while wearing a white bandeau top that read, 'Stay Feral'.It was not the first time a slogan tee was used to drive home a point. Back in January 2023, Rhode founder Hailey Bieber wore a 'Nepo Baby' crop top after New York Magazine's cover on the topic. The same slogan was worn by filmmaker Karan Johar—often called the godfather of Bollywood's nepo babies—in January 2025, while cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal sported a 'Be Your Own Sugar Daddy' tee in the middle of his divorce from Dhanashree Uniyal of homegrown fashion label Mixxd says slogan tees have become extensions of our digital personas: 'We are seeing fashion being used to reclaim narratives, challenge labels and express individ uality. It's the most wearable form of micro-activism.' Mixxd has only one slogan tee shirt but it's their bestseller: the 'Namaste Bitches' tee, which is not for the faint of is always the case with slogan tees, says Pranav Misra, cofounder of homegrown unisex fashion brand Huemn. Its current bestseller has 'Everyone Sucks' in bold print. 'If you are wearing that bold text across your chest, it is a reflection of your personality. It introduces you before you even open your mouth,' says Misra, who calls these tees a deliberate choice. He says text and design depend on the messaging they want. 'Everyone Sucks' connects with a lot of people but works better as current slogan tees are very different from those of the past, says fashion con sultant and writer Varun Rana. The long and rebellious past of slogan tees arguably started in the US in 1948 when Republican presidential candidate Thomas E Dewey had T-shirts emblazoned with 'Dew it with Dewey'.It turned clothing into a billboard. It democratised messaging: anyone could wear a political stance, a joke, or a belief right across their chest And it was put to good use: from anti-war movements to peace slogans in the 1970s to political statements like 'Choose Life' in the 1980s. Now, says Rana, it's more revealing of your personal self: 'You find slogan tees for literally any kind of thought or feeling you may have. And you can print your own tees for as little as Rs 300.'He adds, 'Slogan tees are always in fashion. The kind of world we live in today, what's happening in our country and because of social media, there are a lot of feelings out there, and if you give everybody a chance to express those feelings, they will do so.' And the tee is the medium of choice. Uniyal says that due to an overload of microtrends on social media, consumers are carving out a sense of personal style that feels authentic. She says, 'Indian audiences are not holding back—from cheeky lines to bold statements and Indianised phrases, people are proudly wearing their personalities, opinions and humour.' Misra says people want to wear their opinion on their sleeves. In 2020, actor Rhea Chakraborty walked into the office of the Narcotics Control Bureau, during the investigation and furore related to Sushant Singh Rajput's death, wearing a tee that said: 'Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Let's Smash the Patriarchy, Me and You.'In 2018, US First Lady Melania Trump wore a jacket with the slogan 'I Really Don't Care, Do U?' while visiting a migrant children's shelter, and in 2017, actor Anuskha Sharma wore the Dior tee 'We Should All Be Feminists'. Even luxury designers have come onboard. In 2017, Prabal Gurung had models walk the ramp with tees reading, 'The Future is Female' and 'I Am an Immigrant'. Last year Loewe's 'I Told Ya' tees were all the rage after Zendaya wore it in this year, Sabyasachi marked his 25 years' show with slogan tees in his trademark maximalist style with messages like 'Cat Lady', 'Dog Dad' and 'All Dressed Up Nowhere to Go'. Vedang Patel, cofounder of homegrown merch and fashion label The Souled Store (TSS), says the consumer is now demanding bold, witty and desifirst designs that spark conversation and says, 'Today, slogan tees are driven by nostalgia, pop culture and a renewed desire for selfexpression.' Lines from Bollywood like 'Control Uday'and 'Yeh Baburao ka Style Hai' are huge hits. TSS' best sellers often tap Bollywood, cricket and meme Gen Z and millennials are driving the trend, celebrity stylist Isha Bhansali says there's a slogan tee for every generation. She points to the Nor Black Nor White (NBNW) T-shirt sported by Zeenat Aman with the word 'Aunty' on internet's favourite daddy Pedro Pascal wore a tee, 'Protect the Dolls', created by designer Conner Ives, to a red carpet. Misra says the bottom line for picking a slogan tee is to wear a thought you can get behind. Bhansali agrees: 'A slogan tee's shelf life is as long as you believe in what's written on it.' Patel says while slogan tees make 2% of their total T-shirt sales, the demand is coming from not just tier-1 but tier-2 and tier-3 cities as well. Indie brands like NBNW and Hate Copy work on pop culture designs that use Indian craftsmanship with messages that mirror desi lifestyle. Brands like The Right Feel pay homage to Indian art and film subculture with Hindi words like 'Pyaar' or 'Ishq' on MY LANGUAGE Patel says regional languages, pop culture and local slang play a massive role in shaping designs. He adds, 'There's a clear shift: consumers now want tees that speak their language, both literally and culturally.' He has noticed a strong demand for slogans in Hindi in tier-2 and -3 cities. 'It's all about authenticity—people want to wear what feels real to them,' he agrees and says that people want to embrace their roots—whether it's through language, identity, or hyper-local culture Bhansali is a fan of cheeky tees and ones with self-deprecating humour. She suggests a fusion look for styling. Women can pair it with salwars or a flared skirt, and men can wear it under a suit or with pleated trousers. But is it for all ages? In an online guide on on graphic tees for 'older men', stylist Peter Nguyen came up with the 'The Museum Rule'. His advice: look at the graphic and ask yourself, 'Could this image be framed and hung in a museum?' If the answer is yes, it's a more sophisticated, 'grown-up' Uniyal says, 'Slogans spark a reaction, be it a smirk, a nod, or a moment of 'That's so me.' It's less noise, more impact.' The tees are talking and we are part of the conversation.
News18
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Apoorva Mukhija Spoke To Rhea Chakraborty After IGL Row: ‘Not Seen Media Trial…'
Last Updated: Apoorva Mukhija, aka The Rebel Kid, talked about the India's Got Latent row, and said that a media trial of this magnitude was not seen before in the creator industry. Social media content creator Apoorva Mukhija aka The Rebel Kid recently opened up about the India's Got Latent controversy, and revealed receiving death threats for her comments on Samay Raina hosted show. She addressed the controversy, and pointed out that such a large-scale media trial hasn't been seen before in the creator industry, even though similar instances have occurred in Bollywood. She gave a shoutout to Rhea Chakraborty, and revealed that she talked to the Bollywood actress for an hour about the controversy. For the unversed, Rhea also faced a media trial after Sushant Singh Rajput's death in 2020. While speaking with Yuvaa, Apoorva Mukhija said, 'We have not seen a media trial at this scale. Creator industry mein. We have seen Bollywood industry mein. Shoutout Rhea Chakraborty. I spoke to her also for an hour. My initial response was 'I want to talk about it', because Apoorva talks about everything. But everyone around me said, 'You cannot open your mouth, it'll start another media cycle for five more days. They'll take just one line from what you said, run it on the news, and use it against you. You can't do it.' The only option I had was to stay silent." She also revealed that she lost a lot of business, and all the brands wrote to her saying that it's not the right time to be associated with her. A few months ago, Ranveer Allahabadia's alleged crude comments on Samay Raina's comedy show India's Got Latent led to massive outrage on social media. His remarks triggered a massive backlash, leading to legal action and multiple FIRs against him and other content creators associated with the show. Apoorva was also accused of making an objectionable comment on India's Got Latent. The Rebel Kid recently made her comeback on Instagram when she revealed that she even faced sleep paralysis after the controversy because she was being threatened. First Published:
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Apoorva Mukhija aka The Rebel Kid says it wasn't just her, reveals mom faced rape threats amid IGL controversy
The internet can be chaotic, but sometimes it goes completely rogue. And Apoorva Mukhija, known to her 20-something fanbase as The Rebel Kid, learned that the hard way after the India's Got Latent (IGL) fiasco lit social media on fire. The India's Got Latent controversy While most fingers initially pointed at YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia for that problematic remark on the that's herstory right rebel kid aka apoorvaCould not stop myself frm crying when she said how her parents were harassed her mom's health deteriorated cause of itAll of this just because she answered back a vile man in his own language? What is happening to our country show, a clip featuring Apoorva went viral too, unleashing a level of trolling that would make even the most hardened influencer want to log off forever. But this wasn't just online hate. It was real, raw, and ugly. Apoorva Makhija aka The Rebel Kid reveals her mom received rape threats In a recent conversation with Yuvaa, Apoorva pulled back the curtain on just how dark things got. She confessed that while she was busy bracing herself for impact, she had no idea the internet had already found its way to her family. Her mother's public Instagram account became a battleground of venom. Rape threats. Slut shaming. Disgusting DMs. Apoorva shared that for the first few days, she was just trying to process the hate herself, completely unaware that the storm had reached her own home. When she finally checked in, her brother dropped the bomb: their mum's blood pressure had spiked to 180/120, and the comment section? A war zone. And what did her mum post that triggered the hate brigade? Just a simple comment: 'I'm very proud of my daughter.' That was it. No rants, no defences, just love. She then quietly turned off her comments. Apoorva Makhija's journey post the controversy Her father, who had always preached the value of keeping dignity intact in society, now had to witness his worst fears come true. Apoorva admitted that she felt like she had shattered her parents' trust in one cruel swoop. But here is the plot twist: she survived. Thanks to a solid inner circle of three ride-or-die friends and a family that refused to let the trolls win, Apoorva bounced back. Because even when the internet gets toxic, there is still strength in silence, resilience in support, and yes, light at the end of that pitch-black tunnel
