Makeup art Leena Bhushan breaks silence on ‘humiliating’ team member video: ‘I don’t mreat them’

Delhi-based makeup art Leena Bhushan has shared her side of the story after facing backlash for a video that shows her berating a team member for packing banned items in her flight luggage. The video shows her rebuking the team member, Mehak, at an airport — “Chodh jaun yahin pe tere ko? (Should I leave you here?),” she was heard asking Mehak in the clip that has been viewed nearly 5 million times on X, sparking a wave of negative reactions.Leena Bhushan filmed herself rebuking a team member for packing a lighter in flight luggage.Speaking to HT.com, Bhushan clarified that she was upset because a lighter in her luggage, along with battery items in the hand baggage, led to questioning and increased scrutiny in Kashmir.She pointed out that Kashmir is a high-security area and her team members had been instructed on restricted items beforehand.“I was upset”The video was initially shared Bhushan on Instagram, but gained wider attention after an X user reposted it with the caption: “Publicly humiliating your helper over an honest make on her first flight is bad enough. Doing it on camera knowing she can’t even object without fearing for her job is pure exploitation.”The clip racked up over 4.8 million views on X, where thousands of people criticised Leena Bhushan for “humiliating” her team member. She was also called “class” and “elit” for her behaviour.Speaking to HT.com over a phone call, Bhushan revealed that she had travelled to Kashmir for work along with her team. While returning on September 8, they were stopped and questioned airport security because a lighter was found in Mehak’s baggage.While acknowledging that Mehak is a first-time flyer, Bhushan also noted that her team members had been instructed beforehand on what not to pack for flights.“Imagine having a lighter in my bag my team, and we are at the Kashmir airport. How would you feel? I was 100% upset in that moment, but it does not mean that I mreat them,” she said.Bhushan explained that she was upset because the incident occurred at the Kashmir airport — a high-security zone where she had been detained and questioned during a previous trip for carrying hair sprays.After that incident, the whole team had received strict instructions on what could be packed and where.“Why would you put the entire plane in danger carrying a lighter in your bag? And the batteries… and that too in Kashmir,” said the popular makeup art.“Don’t judge based on one video”Leena Bhushan, who has over 9 lakh followers on Instagram, noted that the controversial video was taken out of context and viewed in isolation. She claimed that her team members are never mreated outside of this high-stress moment.“I was upset with Mehak at that moment, but it does not mean that I treat her like that otherwise,” she said.(Also read: