Apoorva Mukhija breaks silence on claims she paid donation for NYU admission

Apoorva Mukhija has rejected claims that she paid a donation to secure admission to NYU for her MBA. Her response places the scrutiny around her move amid a period marked by online backlash and intense public attention.Apoorva Mukhija on claims she paid donation for NYU admission (Photo: YouTube screengrab)Apoorva Mukhija, better known online as The Rebel Kid, is now in New York pursuing her master’s at NYU Stern. But even as she begins this new chapter, her admission has sparked an unexpected online debate, with social media posts claiming she secured her place by making a donation. Apoorva has now addressed those claims, firmly rejecting the suggestion that money had anything to do with her admission.In a recent YouTube Storytime video, Apoorva hit back at the claims, questioning why anyone would assume she needed to buy her way into business school. She said her admission was based on her academic record, professional experience, the social media business she has built over the years and her performance during the interview.“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. “And on top of that, 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.”Apoorva also pointed to the scale of the digital career she has built. From brand collaborations and reality television to acting and content creation, she said her work on social media has grown into a business of its own. “I have done reality TV, I have acted. I have grown my Instagram and my YouTube to 4.8 Million to 1.8 Million subscribers. It is literally a business that I have been running for the last five years,” she said. “I have employees who work under me. I have a team that works with me.”She also spoke about her interview skills, saying they played a role in her admission. “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,” Apoorva said. Apoorva further revealed that NYU was the only college she applied to. While studying abroad had been on her mind for some time, she said the controversy surrounding India’s Got Latent became a turning point and pushed her to finally make the move.Apoorva was among the panellists on an episode of India’s Got Latent in February 2025, which came under fire after Ranveer Allahbadia made controversial remarks about parents and sex. She faced criticism for confronting a contestant during the episode, while multiple FIRs were later filed in connection with the controversy. Apoorva subsequently said she had received death and rape threats following the backlash.More recently, Apoorva appeared on Lock Upp as an informant. Her stint on the show lasted around two weeks, and she exited before the finale, which was eventually won by influencer and YouTuber Shreya Kalra.- EndsPublished On: Sep 6, 2026 00:10 IST