HUNTR/X's EJAE Invites Taylor Swift to 'K-Pop Demon Hunters 2' at Oscars — Is Pop's Biggest Crossover Coming?

EJAE, the singing voice behind Rumi in K-Pop Demon Hunters and co-writer of the chart-topping hit Golden, publicly invited Taylor Swift to collaborate on the film's sequel during the 2026 Oscars red carpet on Sunday.

Speaking to Variety at the 98th Academy Awards, the Seoul-born singer said, 'If you want, Taylor, you can come to K-Pop Demon Hunters and write some songs.'

The invitation arrived at a moment of peak cultural dominance. Just hours later, EJAE stood on the Dolby Theatre stage as Golden won Best Original Song, making history as the first K-pop track to claim an Oscar. K-Pop Demon Hunters also won Best Animated Feature, capping a record-breaking run for Netflix's most-watched programme ever.

What a Swift Collaboration Could Mean

A Taylor Swift partnership would unite pop music's biggest solo act with the hottest animated franchise right now. Both EJAE and Swift share a rare honor: Billboard named EJAE, along with HUNTR/X co-members Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, as the 2026 Women of the Year. Swift is a past recipient of the same award.

Golden spent eight weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, marking the first chart-topper by a female K-pop act and the longest-running No. 1 hit of the 21st century by a female group. Additionally, the song held the top spot on the Billboard Global 200 for 18 weeks, tying the record for the longest run since the chart's 2020 inception.

Netflix confirmed K-Pop Demon Hunters 2 on 12 March, just days before the Oscars ceremony. Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans will return for the sequel as part of a new multi-year deal with the streaming giant. The film is reportedly targeting a 2029 release.

Fans and Fandom Collide

The invitation sparked immediate conversation on social media, where Swifties and K-Pop Demon Hunters fans have already begun imagining what a collaboration might look like. The Swift Society, a major Taylor Swift fan account, posted clips of EJAE's red carpet comments, drawing thousands of views within hours.

Swift has previously written for animated soundtracks and collaborated across genres throughout her career. The K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 and has been streamed over 11 billion times globally, making it one of the most commercially successful film soundtracks in recent memory.

The Making of Golden and EJAE's Journey

EJAE co-wrote Golden alongside Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park. The track also won at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and the Grammys earlier this year.

'Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop, but now everyone's singing our song and all the Korean lyrics,' EJAE said during her acceptance speech on Sunday. 'This award is not about success. It's about resilience.'

The singer previously discussed her personal connection to her K-Pop Demon Hunters character in an interview with Rolling Stone. 'I feel like I experienced all facets of K-pop. I was a trainee, I became a songwriter, I also vocal directed for K-pop idols,' she said. 'So I really resonated with Rumi.'

What's Next for the Franchise

Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said the sequel will expand the K-Pop Demon Hunters universe 'in ways that will surprise and delight fans all over the world.' Director Maggie Kang added, 'I feel immense pride as a Korean filmmaker that the audience wants more from this Korean story and our Korean characters. There's so much more to this world we have built.'

Whether Swift accepts the invitation remains to be seen. But if the collaboration happens, it could become one of the most significant crossover moments in recent pop culture history.