Apoorva Makhija, widely known as The Rebel Kid, has found herself at the center of a social media storm after a clip from Samay Raina’s show India’s Got Latent went viral. The video showed her confronting a contestant over misogynistic remarks, but it was Apoorva who bore the brunt of public backlash, prompting widespread debate around gender norms and selective outrage.
In an in-depth interview, Apoorva opened up about the criticism and reflected on what she describes as society’s “selective hatred” toward independent women. She voiced her frustration that the contestant’s problematic comments were largely ignored, while her response became a target of intense scrutiny. Drawing a comparison with popular YouTuber CarryMinati, she questioned the double standard in public reactions. “CarryMinati abuses and it is never an issue, but if I abuse, it becomes an issue,” she pointed out.
She went on to describe her personal journey through growing awareness of gender inequality, explaining how her experiences shaped her stance. “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.”
Apoorva Makhija further criticized the societal habit of policing women’s choices while ignoring the same behavior in men. She observed that while her male friends are free to post about drinking daily without backlash, she is judged harshly for similar actions. Her statements underline the persistent cultural discomfort with women asserting autonomy, especially in public spaces.
Through her words, Apoorva has reignited a crucial conversation on gender bias, freedom of expression, and the ongoing struggle women face in navigating a society that remains deeply uncomfortable with their independence.
