IVE members Rei and Liz have been selected as new ambassadors for luxury fashion brand Valentino, drawing both congratulations and criticism from fans online. The news gained attention after a post on the Korean community forum Pann went viral, surpassing 32,000 views. According to the post, the ambassadorial appointments were not widely publicized through news articles or official social media posts. Instead, fans reportedly only became aware of the partnership after Rei and Liz left for Paris, with the announcement made via Valentino’s official KakaoTalk channel.
While expressing happiness for the members who secured ambassadorships, the original poster questioned why two members of the same group had been chosen for the same brand and criticized the lack of visible promotion. The post also claims that such opportunities are highly dependent on the company’s support, placing the blame on Starship Entertainment.
The discussion extended to broader concerns about promotional inequality among IVE members. The post referenced past situations involving Leeseo, Gaeul and Yujin, suggesting that individual advertisements and brand deals often appear inconsistent or delayed. The author stated that Starship excels at album production and concerts, but fails to build long-term brand value for its artists.
Reactions online have been mixed. Some commenters congratulated Rei and Liz on the achievement, while others questioned whether the deal was a formal ambassadorship rather than a sponsorship. Several users also noted that it is rare for two members of the same group to serve as ambassadors for the same luxury brand.
Comments on Pann:
- “They’re both cute, but Liz looks like a ghost, and Rei always seems sad… can’t they change their image?”
- “I’m not sure about them, but most of the big companies get ads for their idols.”
- “Honestly, it doesn’t suit him.”
- “Congratulations to them!”
- “Starship doesn’t do that. If they had done even half as much as other companies, the group would have been more famous.”
- “Are you sure they are ambassadors and not just sponsored? I’ve seen a member get selected for brands, but I’ve never seen two members get selected as ambassadors for the same brand.”
Despite the debate, many fans expressed anticipation for Rei and Liz’s appearance at the upcoming Paris fashion show, viewing the appointment as a positive step for the members’ individual careers.
Sources: Pan
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