An emotional celebration of K-pop’s global triumph at the Oscars was overshadowed by a moment that left fans frustrated and questioning Hollywood’s treatment of non-Western voices.
At the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday night, KPop Demon Hunters made history — and headlines — when its record-breaking anthem ‘Golden’ took home the Oscar for Best Original Song. But the team’s victory moment was cut short when the orchestra abruptly played over co-writer Yu-Han Lee’s speech, leaving him silenced on live television.
The award marked a crowning achievement for the Korean-American creative team behind ‘Golden,’ a song that has dominated charts and global playlists for nearly a year.
Performed in the film by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami — and co-written by EJAE alongside Mark Sonnenblick, Yu-Han Lee, and veteran K-pop producers Teddy Park, Joong Gyu-kwak, and Nam Hee-dong — the track has become a touchstone for K-pop’s crossover into Hollywood prestige.
Taking the stage at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, EJAE began the acceptance speech with pride and vulnerability: “Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop, but now everyone’s singing our song in all the Korean lyrics,” she said. “This award isn’t about success — it’s about resilience.”
But when Yu-Han stepped up to the microphone, the music swelled and his mic was muted. The songwriting team, visibly startled, tried to speak over the orchestra before the stage lights dimmed and the broadcast cut away. Viewers quickly took to social media to protest what many saw as a snub.
“The first K-pop team to win an Oscar — and they don’t get to finish their speech? That’s the irony of the night,” one viewer wrote on X, while others compared the incident to past cutoffs that disproportionately affected artists of color. As of Monday morning, the Academy had not issued a comment.
🔥🚨BREAKING: The Oscars audience erupted in anger and boos when EJAE got emotional as she made history as the first Oscar win for a K-pop song and the academy played music over her as she attempted to speak.
Viewers are currently pissed online, no way to put it lightly. pic.twitter.com/PvTnCoHswN
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) March 16, 2026
“Absolutely disgraceful. EJAE made history tonight, and the Academy tried to silence her moment with a play-off track,” one disgruntled fan said.
“This isn’t just rude; it’s a total lack of respect for the global impact of K-pop and its artists. She earned that stage.”
Another slammed the Academy for wasting time on “non-actors,” stating the move was an “insult” to Kpop groups.
One commenter simply stated, “The Academy hates Koreans.”
Absolutely disgraceful. EJAE made history tonight, and the Academy tried to silence her moment with a play-off track. This isn’t just rude; it’s a total lack of respect for the global impact of K-pop and its artists. She earned that stage. 😤🎶 #Oscars #EJAE #RespectKpop
— 🦋 Betty Velvet (@BettyBVel) March 16, 2026
Despite the interruption, KPop Demon Hunters continued its victorious night, also winning Best Animated Feature — a historic first for co-director Maggie Kang and producer Michelle Wong, both now the first individuals of South Korean descent to win in that category.
During her emotional remarks, Kang dedicated the win to the next generation of Korean creatives, “For everyone who looks like me, I’m sorry it took so long to see us in a movie like this. But it’s here now — and that means the next generation doesn’t have to go longing.”
Speaking backstage, EJAE elaborated on her on-stage speech.
“We feel very grateful and very honored. We all worked so hard and this is such a collaborative effort, we just need to thank our directors. They created a beautiful film. Everyone was a part of it and we are just so happy that the hard work paid off.” the singer said.
“Also, I needed to thank Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna onstage, but I didn’t get to because they just cut us off. They killed it with their singing and they’re just incredible people and I love them so much.”
Lee also added, “I would like to thank all our families, my fellow Idol members and Teddy Park. This is an incredible honor.”
Sonnenblick, who also didn’t even get a chance to speak, said, “[I’d like to thank] my family, some of whom are here tonight, my husband, Isaac, who is here tonight. But also just to say everybody who worked on this movie, all the animators, it was a real collaboration across the board. It’s a movie where part of the movie is about looking at someone that you have been taught to hate and to fear and starting to trust, maybe even love them. And that’s part of what the movie is about.
Read more: Netflix Blockbuster ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Wins Oscar For Best Animated Feature
Since its release in 2025, KPop Demon Hunters has become Netflix’s most-streamed film worldwide and a cultural touchstone for Asian representation in global media. Its soundtrack, headlined by ‘Golden,’ topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 18 non-consecutive weeks and has earned Grammy, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice Awards — cementing it as a cornerstone of the K-pop-to-Hollywood movement.
Still, Sunday night’s abrupt fadeout sparked a larger conversation about how cultural breakthroughs are celebrated — and who gets to be heard while they happen.
With a sequel officially in development, the legacy of KPop Demon Hunters is still unfolding. But its Oscar night will be remembered as both a milestone and a reminder: representation may be winning awards, but true respect means letting the voices behind those victories speak.
