The team behind Golden made history at the 2026 Oscars when the song became the first K-pop number ever to win Best Original Song, but their moment in the spotlight was soured when one of their co-writers was cut off by the orchestra mid-speech, sparking an immediate backlash online.
Ejae led the acceptance speech when she and six other songwriters, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park, took the stage at the Dolby Theater on March 15.
Visibly emotional, she opened by reflecting on how far the moment had taken her.
“Thank you so much to the Academy for this insane award,” she said, blinking back tears.
“When I was growing up, people made fun of me because I liked K-pop, but now everyone is singing our song and all the Korean lyrics. I’m so proud.”
She went on to talk about what the win meant beyond the award itself.
“I realize the song, this award, is not about success, it’s about resilience,” she said, before thanking her family, her fiance, her manager, the cast of Kpop Demon HuntersNetflix and Sony Animation.
Then she turned to check if any of her co-authors had anyone to thank.
One of them stepped up to the microphone with a piece of paper in hand and began, “I want to thank you,” before the orchestra cut in, signaling the end of their allotted time.
The team was ushered offstage as the broadcast went to a commercial break.
Sonnenblick was visibly frustrated, jumping up and down and appearing to mouth “come now” as they were moved. His reaction made it clear that the group felt the moment had been mishandled.
The internet agreed.
The reaction to X was quick and sharp. “Omg this is so rude! They just made the story up to give them 5 extra seconds,” wrote one user.
Another took a broader swipe at the ceremony’s priorities, “STOP LOVING THE WINNERS’ SPEECHES WHEN WE HAVE TO SIT LONGER A** UNFUNNY BITS.”
It was an unfortunate end to what had otherwise been a landmark night for the film.
Kpop Demon Hunters had already won Best Animated Feature earlier in the night, with co-writer and director Maggie Kang giving a speech that added its own emotional weight.
“For those of you who are like me, I’m so sorry it took so long to see us in a movie like this, but here it is,” she said.
“It means the next generations don’t have to long.”
Earlier in the broadcast, Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami had appeared Golden live, one of only two songs performed during the ceremony, alongside I lied to you from Sinners.
The performance brought the house down. Through no fault of the winners, the speech did not get the ending it deserved.
