Influencer Ankush Bahuguna reveals he was subjected to homophobic abuse while walking through London in a bright pink suit
Indian influencer Ankush Bahuguna has revealed he was subjected to homophobic abuse while walking through London in a bright pink suit during a recent visit to the city.
Bahuguna, who is widely known for challenging stereotypes around men wearing make-up, shared a video on Instagram documenting the incident. The footage showed a group of suited men mocking him in the street, shouting comments including, “Welcome to the parade”, alongside whistles, laughter and jeering.
The creator had travelled to London to attend an event hosted by Huda Beauty and had dressed in a tailored hot pink suit to match the occasion’s theme. However, he later said the hostile reaction from strangers quickly overshadowed the experience.
In the now-viral clip, Bahuguna admitted he had expected the British capital to be “more progressive, more open-minded, more modern”, before adding: “Clearly not.”
He also revealed that the confrontation shown online was not an isolated moment. “This wasn’t even the first incident that morning,” he explained, saying he had faced repeated remarks and stares while moving around the city.
While many women complimented his outfit, he claimed groups of men reacted very differently. “Some were hooting, some were laughing, some were passing comments,” he said, adding that even younger boys appeared to join in.
Addressing why he chose not to respond directly to the abuse, Bahuguna said the atmosphere felt threatening. “There were too many of them,” he explained. “I was alone, in a different country, and honestly, I just wanted to make sure I stayed safe.”
The video triggered a wave of support from fellow creators and actors across social media. Content creator Kusha Kapila suggested the abuse reflected narrow ideas of masculinity, writing: “Most of these men have probably never allowed themselves the freedom to wear what they truly want.”
Author and educator Seema Anand described the behaviour as “horrid”, while actor Kubbra Sait said the influencer’s discomfort was impossible to miss. “You could actually see the fear in your eyes,” she commented online.
Support also came from actors Swara Bhasker and Shibani Dandekar Akhtar, both of whom praised Bahuguna for continuing to express himself confidently despite the experience.
The incident has since fuelled wider conversations online about harassment in public spaces and the pressure many men face to conform to traditional expectations of masculinity. Reflecting on the episode, Bahuguna concluded with a pointed message aimed at his critics: “If someone simply existing and dressing differently makes you uncomfortable, maybe the problem isn’t with them.”
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