Oscars Spark Outrage by Cutting Off KPop Demon Hunters' Historic Golden Speech
The 2026 Oscars ceremony descended into controversy after the Academy cut short the acceptance speech for the Best Original Song winner, Golden from the animated musical KPop Demon Hunters. The incident, which occurred as co-writer Yu Han Lee began to speak, has ignited a firestorm of criticism from fans and viewers online, who labelled it a disrespectful act towards the creative team behind one of the year's biggest songs.
Emotional Moment Interrupted
Singer and co-writer EJAE, 34, initially took to the stage to accept the award, sharing an emotional tribute to her journey. "Growing up, people made fun of me for liking KPop, but now everyone is singing our song and all the Korean lyrics and I'm so proud," she said through tears. After thanking numerous individuals involved in the film and her personal life, she passed the microphone to her colleague, Yu Han Lee.
However, as Lee began to express gratitude, the Oscars' traditional play-off music abruptly drowned out his voice, preventing the audience from hearing his full message. This interruption occurred during what was a historic moment, marking the first Oscar win for a K-pop song.
Social Media Erupts in Fury
Social media platforms were quickly flooded with outrage from fans and observers. One viewer exclaimed, "Alright f*** the Oscars for cutting off Best Original Song for Golden KPop Demon Hunters. Absolute disrespect and disgraceful to the creatives behind the biggest song of the year." Others echoed similar sentiments, with comments such as:
- "It's so messed that they didn't let them finish," opined one user.
- "Did them so dirty!" exclaimed another.
- "DAMN! They played off KPop Demon Hunters crazy," marveled a viewer.
Many highlighted the significance of the moment, arguing that the Academy failed to honour a groundbreaking achievement. "EJAE makin history as first K-pop Oscar win and they cut her off with the music mid-emotion?? Academy wild for that disrespect," raged one fan. Another insisted, "When someone makes history, the least you can do is let them finish their speech. That moment belongs to them, not the countdown music."
Historic Win for KPop Demon Hunters
The controversy overshadowed what was otherwise a triumphant night for KPop Demon Hunters. The Netflix animated musical, released in June 2025, became the streamer's most-watched original project ever and received critical acclaim. It won both Oscars for which it was nominated: Best Original Song and Best Animated Feature.
In the song category, Golden defeated a strong field of nominees, including I Lied to You from Sinners, Sweet Dreams of Joy from Viva Verdi!, the title track from the period drama Train Dreams by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner, and Diane Warren's Dear Me from her documentary. Warren's loss marked her 17th defeat in the category, setting a record.
For Best Animated Feature, KPop Demon Hunters triumphed over competitors like Pixar's Elio, French films Arco and Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, and Disney's Zootopia 2.
Reflections on Resilience
During her speech, EJAE touched on the deeper meaning of the award, stating, "I realized the song, this award is not about success. It’s about resilience." This message of perseverance resonated with many, making the subsequent cut-off all the more poignant for fans who felt the Academy missed an opportunity to fully celebrate this milestone.
The incident has sparked broader discussions about the Oscars' handling of acceptance speeches, with critics calling for more flexibility and respect towards winners, especially during historic moments. As the backlash continues online, the Academy faces mounting pressure to address the perceived slight against the KPop Demon Hunters team and their groundbreaking achievement in the world of K-pop and animation.
