Content creator Apoorva Mukhija, popularly known as The Rebel Kid, has strongly denied rumours that she secured admission to New York University’s Stern School of Business through a donation. She has moved to New York to pursue her MBA and addressed the speculation head-on in a new YouTube video.
Social media users on X (formerly Twitter) began questioning how she got into the prestigious B-school, suggesting money might have played a role. Apoorva did not hold back while responding to these claims.
“Are you all mad? Firstly I don’t have so much money to donate and the fees here are so much that it feels like donation,” she said in her Storytime video.
She then listed her qualifications and experience to prove her admission was based on merit.
‘I Have Been Exceptional in All My Academics’
Apoorva made it clear that her academic record and professional background speak for themselves. She pointed out that she has always performed well in her studies.
“From a B-school point of view, I have been exceptional in all my academics. I have crazy work experience. I have worked with all of the top brands in the country,” she stated.
The content creator also highlighted her work in reality television and acting. She mentioned that she has grown her Instagram following to 4.8 million and her YouTube channel to 1.8 million subscribers.
She described her social media presence as a proper business.
“It is literally a business that I have been running for the last five years. I have employees who work under me. I have a team that works with me,” she explained.
‘I Know How to Talk’
Apoorva also credited her interview skills for helping her secure the admission. She expressed confidence in her ability to communicate effectively.
“My interview skills are top notch, if you ever interview me for any job, I will get it because I know how to talk! The one thing that I know how to do is talk! So no, I am not here by giving donations,” she said.
She revealed that NYU was the only college she applied to. She had always planned to study abroad, and the recent controversy surrounding her participation in India’s Got Latent pushed her to finally take that step.
The India’s Got Latent Controversy
Apoorva was a panellist on an episode of Samay Raina’s show India’s Got Latent that sparked massive backlash in February 2025. The controversy began when fellow panellist Ranveer Allahbadia made remarks about parents and sex that drew widespread criticism.
Apoorva also faced backlash after a confrontation with a contestant on the show. Multiple FIRs were filed against those involved under the Information Technology Act.
She later revealed that she received death and r*pe threats following the incident. The whole experience took a serious toll on her mental health.
“The Latent controversy really disturbed my mental health,” she shared. She had always wanted to move abroad for studies, and the difficult period made her finally act on that plan.
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Moving to New York and Starting Fresh
Apoorva has now left India and shifted to New York City. She is currently pursuing her MBA at NYU Stern. She plans to return to India after completing her degree.
In a recent podcast, she spoke about wanting a different kind of life away from the constant pressure of staying relevant online. She admitted that being The Rebel Kid for so long made her forget who she is outside that persona.
“I think somewhere along the way, I’ve genuinely forgotten who I am when I’m not being The Rebel Kid,” she said.
She also mentioned that she does not see Bollywood as her long-term career. Instead, she wants to build her own direct-to-consumer brand after finishing her MBA. Her experience promoting products for different businesses gave her an interest in entrepreneurship, but she realised she needed to understand operations and supply chain management better.
Before moving to New York, Apoorva was seen on the reality show Lock Upp for a two-week stint as an informant.
Also Read: Apoorva Mukhija Moves to New York, Says Constant Pressure to Stay Relevant Forced Her to Leave India
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