Fans Erupt as KPop Demon Hunters Creators Get Cut Off During Oscars Acceptance Speech in Los Angeles

Fans of the animated hit KPop Demon Hunters erupted online after the film’s chart-topping musical number, Golden, claimed the Oscar for Best Original Song — only for its creators to be silenced mid-speech.

Singer EJAE, 34, who co-wrote the song with Ido, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Mark Sonnenblick, Teddy, and 24, took the stage in tears to celebrate the milestone, becoming the first K-pop artist to win in this category.

“I grew up getting teased for loving K-pop, and now everyone is singing our song — all the Korean lyrics — and I’m so proud,” EJAE said, visibly moved, as she thanked friends, family, and colleagues who contributed to the project.

Speech Cut Sparks Social Media Backlash

Just as co-writer Lee approached the microphone to extend thanks, the Oscars’ play-off music blared over him, cutting his words entirely. Fans quickly turned to social media to express their outrage.

One viewer fumed, “F*** the Oscars for cutting off Golden. Absolute disrespect and disgraceful to the creatives behind the biggest song of the year.”

Others echoed the sentiment: “Did them so dirty,” “ridiculous,” and “that was rough and so unnecessary. Zero chill.”

Supporters emphasized the historic nature of the moment. “EJAE making history as the first K-pop Oscar win and they cut her off mid-emotion??

Academy wild for that disrespect,” one fan wrote, while another argued, “Cutting off a historic moment like this is pure disrespect. EJAE deserved her moment.”

Resilience at the Heart of the Acceptance

Despite the interruption, EJAE’s emotional speech highlighted the song’s deeper meaning: “I realized the song, this award is not about success. It’s about resilience.”

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Her remarks resonated with audiences worldwide, particularly as KPop Demon Hunters had become a cultural phenomenon since its release last June.

The Netflix animated musical quickly became the streamer’s most-watched original project ever and garnered widespread critical acclaim.

Its success was cemented at the Oscars, where it also took home the Best Animated Feature award.

Competition and Record-Breaking Losses

In the Best Original Song category, Golden triumphed over stiff competition, including I Lied to You from Sinners and Sweet Dreams of Joy from Viva Verdi!.

Veteran songwriter Diane Warren was also nominated for Dear Me from Diane Warren: Relentless, marking her 17th loss in this category — a record in Oscar history.

Other contenders included the title track from the period drama Train Dreams, penned by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner.

Meanwhile, in the Best Animated Feature category, KPop Demon Hunters bested releases like Pixar’s Elio, the French films Arco and Little Amélie, the indie Character of Rain, and Disney’s Zootopia 2.

Impact and Consequences

The abrupt cut-off has sparked widespread criticism of the Academy’s handling of acceptance speeches.

Fans argue that historic cultural milestones, such as a first K-pop Oscar win, deserve full recognition without interruptions.

The incident may prompt the Academy to reconsider its timing policies for future ceremonies, especially for moments of historic significance.

What’s Next?

Industry observers anticipate continued discussion on social media and entertainment news outlets regarding how the Academy balances broadcast timing with honoring artists.

EJAE and her team may also use the attention to further promote KPop Demon Hunters and its musical achievements.

Summary

Golden’s Oscar win marks a milestone for K-pop and Netflix’s animated content, but the interruption during the acceptance speech overshadowed what should have been a fully celebratory moment.

Despite the controversy, both the song and film solidified their place in cinematic and musical history.

Bulleted Takeaways

• KPop Demon Hunters won Oscars for Best Original Song (Golden) and Best Animated Feature.
• Singer EJAE became the first K-pop artist to win an Oscar.
• Co-writer Lee’s speech was cut off mid-thank you due to play-off music.
• Social media erupted in outrage over the interruption, calling it disrespectful.
• Golden beat out songs from Sinners, Viva Verdi!, and Train Dreams.
• Diane Warren lost Best Original Song for the 17th time.
• KPop Demon Hunters surpassed major animated releases like Elio and Zootopia 2.
• The event has sparked debates over the Academy’s handling of historic acceptance speeches.