Kai, the model who stars alongside Jennie in her newly released music video Less than a Lover, has become the center of online attention. However, he is now facing criticism over a series of recent remarks.

According to Sinchew, Kai (Jin Kai), a 23-year-old model from Taiwan, plays the male lead in Jennie’s latest music video Less than a Lover. Throughout the MV, the pair share several romantic scenes, including holding hands, leaning on each other, blowing bubbles together, and enjoying affectionate moments. In one memorable sequence, Kai wraps his arms around Jennie as they spend time together aboard a yacht.

With his tall stature and striking visuals, Kai quickly attracted widespread attention from viewers and was even nicknamed “Jennie’s muse” by online fans. Notably, his English stage name, Kai, happens to be the same as Jennie’s former boyfriend, Kai of EXO.

The situation escalated after the model posted a message on his personal social media account, writing, “I realized that my name, whether in Chinese or English, is quite a hot topic for discussion.”

The post immediately sparked backlash among Jennie’s fans. Many accused him of attempting to gain attention by referencing the BLACKPINK member’s ex-boyfriend and using Jennie’s popularity to boost his own profile. Comments flooded social media, including: “Do you even realize who you’re working with?”, “Jennie gave you a career-changing opportunity, and this is how you respond?”, and “You should stay quiet throughout the promotion period.”

At the same time, some neutral viewers defended the young model and encouraged him not to be affected by the criticism. Kai later addressed the controversy again through his social media account, writing, “That’s the only thing they can do. Let them have their fun if it makes them happy.”

Born in 2002, Kai stands approximately 180 cm tall. Before moving to South Korea, he worked as a fashion model in Taiwan. In 2025, he received an offer from a Korean modeling agency, prompting him to relocate to Seoul, where he has continued building his career in the entertainment and fashion industries.

Sources: Znews