Renowned Indian fashion and beauty content creator Ankush Bahuguna has sparked an international conversation on street safety and toxic masculinity after sharing a disturbing encounter with street-level homophobia.
Bahuguna, who has built a massive global following by systematically shattering traditional gender stereotypes through male makeup, fluid fashion, and bold self-expression, took to social media to document an uncomfortable ordeal where he was aggressively mocked and heckled by groups of men on the streets of London simply for wearing a bright pink outfit.
The disturbing incident has sent shockwaves through the digital community, as London is globally romanticized as a progressive, safe, and open-minded haven for self-expression. Following the viral video, a galaxy of prominent Bollywood celebrities and digital icons including Swara Bhasker, Kubbra Sait, and Kusha Kapila publicly stood in solidarity with Bahuguna, fiercely calling out the regressive behavior of the hecklers.
The Anatomy of the London Incident
On Sunday, May 17, 2026, Bahuguna uploaded an IGTV video bluntly titled “Homophobia on the streets of London.” In the raw video snippet, multiple groups of grown men and younger boys can be seen and heard shouting offensive slurs and mocking his clothing choices as he walked past. At one point in the footage, a heckler can be heard yelling, “Welcome to the parade,” weaponizing LGBTQ+ imagery to ridicule a straight-cut fashion choice.
Visibly shaken but incredibly articulate, Bahuguna addressed his camera immediately following the encounters to deconstruct the sheer absurdity of the situation.
“It’s 2026 for f***’s sake and this is what happens on the street if you just wear pink,” Bahuguna stated. “You think this is London, it would be more progressive, more open-minded… clearly not. If a guy just minding his own business and wearing a certain color is making you feel uncomfortable, it’s not his masculinity that’s weak—it’s yours.”
The Gendered Reaction Divide:
• Female Perspective: Bahuguna noted multiple women stopped him to offer genuine compliments on his style.
• Male Perspective: Driven entirely by micro-aggressions, mocking gestures, and group heckling.
• The Tactical Choice: Being a solo traveler in a foreign country, Bahuguna strategically chose not to physically confront the aggressive groups for his own safety.
London Men, Get a F**g Grip
As the video quickly crossed millions of views, prominent figures from the Indian entertainment industry flooded the comment section to validate Bahuguna’s vulnerability and slam the false progressive reputation of Western capitals.
| Celebrity Supporter | Official Reaction & Statement Summary |
| Kusha Kapila | “Most men who feel the need to do this have probably never given themselves the freedom to wear beautiful clothes. There’s plenty of eve-teasing in London too. The place really isn’t all that.” |
| Swara Bhasker | “Wow! I’m so sorry, Ankush! More power and fabulousness to you.” |
| Kubbra Sait | “I could sense the fear and lack of safety. Thank you for sharing. London men get a f*g grip and let hoomans be. Als o, LOVE THE FIT!” |
Challenging the Illusion of Western Progressiveness
The viral discourse has opened up a broader conversation regarding street safety for gender-fluid and metrosexual individuals traveling abroad. Fans and sociology commentators pointed out that while cities like London heavily monetize pride events and corporate progressive imagery, the ground reality for individuals experimenting with non-traditional aesthetics remains fraught with underlying hostility.
Despite the traumatic experience of being outnumbered in a foreign setting, Bahuguna was widely praised by his millions of followers for refusing to delete the video or alter his signature aesthetic. By exposing his own fear and the subsequent support it generated, the creator has successfully flipped a moment designed to humiliate him into a massive, unifying stance against everyday bigotry.