KPop Demon Hunters' Golden Wins Best Song– But Thank You Speech Rudely Cut? Fans Rage!

The team behind 'Golden', the hit track from Netflix's animated film KPop Demon Hunters, made Oscars history when the song won Best Original Song at the 2026 Academy Awards.

However, the celebration quickly turned awkward on stage.

As singer-songwriter EJAE handed the podium to her fellow collaborator and songwriter Yu-Han Lee, the orchestra played off music that reportedly swelled just seconds in, cutting the moment short and leaving fans furious online.

A Historic Oscar Win for a K-Pop Song

'Golden' had already built serious momentum during awards season before arriving at the Oscars. The track — written by EJAE alongside Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo (24), and Teddy Park — won Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards and picked up a Grammy earlier in 2026.

Its Oscar win marked a major first: a K-pop track taking home the Academy Award Best Original Song prize.

The film itself also had a big night. KPop Demon Hunters, directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, won Best Animated Feature as well, capping an awards-season run that blended Korean folklore themes with high-energy pop performances.

During the ceremony, EJAE performed 'Golden' live, accompanied by fellow singers Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, one of only two songs performed on stage that night.

What Happened During The Winning Speech?

When the song's creative team stepped on stage to accept the award, EJAE began speaking about her journey with K-pop. 'Growing up, everyone made fun of me for liking K-pop,' she said. 'And now everyone is singing our song.'

Although EJAE received the time to finish her emotional speech, her collaborators, who were also receiving the honour, appeared to have less time to speak. According to fans on social media, orchestral play-off music began shortly after EJAE's speech, growing louder as the group attempted to continue their thanks.

At one point, EJAE appeared to raise her hand toward the orchestra and say, 'Please stop,' while other collaborators attempted to thank supporters. The broadcast soon cut to commercials, leaving at least two members of the songwriting team mid-sentence.

The interruption came after the film's earlier Best Animated Feature acceptance speech had also reportedly been cut short, with producer Michelle L. M. Wong interrupted while thanking Netflix.

However, the team later spoke backstage during the press meeting. Speaking on behalf of the group, EJAE said, '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.'

Fans Call the Moment 'Disrespectful'

Within hours of the broadcast, the moment had become a hot topic on social media. Many viewers argued that the speech lasted barely 20 seconds before the music began.

Some fans accused the show's producers of prioritising comedy bits and commercial breaks over an important cultural moment. Others pointed out that certain winners earlier in the night appeared to receive longer speaking times.

'Rudely interrupted,' 'mic cut off,' and 'historic moment ruined,' while others questioned why the ceremony couldn't make room for a slightly longer speech after such a breakthrough win.

Oscar Speech Cutoffs Have Happened for Decades

Moments like this are far from new at the Academy Awards. The show has enforced strict speech limits since the 1940s after actress Greer Garson delivered a famously long acceptance speech in 1943.

Since then, orchestral play-off music has been used to signal when winners should wrap up. In 2008, musicians Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová were cut off during their Best Original Song speech for Once, prompting criticism that the moment felt abrupt.

Last year, Adrien Brody famously pushed past the play-off music during his 2025 Best Actor speech for The Brutalist, asking the orchestra to stop while he finished speaking.

The 2026 ceremony had another awkward timing moment as well, when winners of a tied Best Live-Action Short acceptance reportedly lost their speaking time when the broadcast cut away.

Despite the awkward on-stage moment, the win for 'Golden' remains a major milestone. The song's success across the Golden Globes, Grammys and Oscars reflects the growing global reach of K-pop, especially within film and streaming projects.

For many fans, that achievement was the real takeaway of the night.