EXO Kai’s Latest Activity Hit With Scathing Comparisons With BTS’s V

EXO member Kai‘s recent whereabouts have sparked a heated debate online.

EXO’s Kai | @zkdlin/Instagram

On February 25, KST, Kai was announced as the newest brand ambassador for the iconic beauty brand MAC Cosmetics China.

Kai of EXO has been announced as Mac Cosemtic’s newest brand ambassador. pic.twitter.com/E9UIwn28Cc

— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 25, 2026

Fans celebrated this news, given how significant a milestone it is for a male celebrity to be the face of a beauty brand.

First male muse ambassador for Bobbi Brown, YSL muse and now brand ambassador for MAC like… he's just that damn pretty… imagine if they answered Fenty's DM tho… https://t.co/cmmPDuNETJ

— sui (@pexolaris) February 25, 2026

Kai is the first Korean male artist to become an ambassador for MAC 😮‍💨🤎 #KAIxMAC #KAI #카이pic.twitter.com/z3i3Ng0HgS https://t.co/QkMBh59AZ8

— Roya🧸 (@Roya_zkdlin) February 25, 2026

bro went from bobby brown to ysl and now to mac face card never declines https://t.co/kM7o4NEJ83

— roe ✿ (@vinyloeycotton) February 25, 2026

There was minimal pushback as well, given that the brand’s parent company, The Estée Lauder Companies, has ties to Israel, and its owner, Ronald Lauder, appeared numerous times in the Epstein Files. Some also took issue with the brand’s animal testing policy.

Not only is Mac owned by a raging zionist but its products are not cruelty free as well but kpop fans will turn blind eye and celebrate it like oscars https://t.co/Q8LXGyYsMD

— 非 (@vampttae) February 25, 2026

The ambassadorship also invited unexpected criticism involving comparisons with BTS member V.

BTS’s V | @thv/Instagram

The BTS member’s fans ridiculed the lack of any meaningful pushback against Kai’s endorsement despite the brand’s problematic ties to Zionism. They felt it was hypocritical, given that V’s brand ambassadorships were hit with flaming criticism over the same reasons.

The nugu privilege is insane in kpop cuz where are the zionist allegations now?? https://t.co/nYptjcOJYz pic.twitter.com/AKn3B5i9Gm

— THV's girl✨💅🏻 (@Storemc913thv) February 25, 2026

what happened to boycott now? https://t.co/ABjPYWhlym

— ming⁷ (@Yourdaddyming) February 25, 2026

So are kpop stans ever going to speak up about their fake activism, or does that energy disappear when the idol is a nugu? https://t.co/rLsoakwbf2 pic.twitter.com/n7UyrCjtts

— jez⁷ (@suavethv) February 25, 2026

Nugu privilege is real https://t.co/5omwBZohKN pic.twitter.com/1c8ozBd5M2

— 𝓖 ⁷ (@vantelores) February 25, 2026

While intention and principles are essential in consumption habits, is making serious issues as fodder for K-Pop fan wars the right approach?