Internet Reacts After K-Pop Song ‘Golden’ Wins Oscar But Acceptance Speech Is Cut Short

K-pop made history at the 98th Academy Awards when the song Golden from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters won the Oscar for Best Original Song. However, what should have been a celebratory moment quickly became controversial after the winners’ acceptance speech was unexpectedly cut short during the live broadcast.

The ceremony, held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, marked a major milestone for the global music industry. Golden became the first K-pop song ever to win an Academy Award, a breakthrough moment celebrated by fans and artists worldwide.

During the acceptance speech, singer and composer EJAE began by thanking the Academy and reflecting on her personal journey with K-pop.

“Thank you to the Academy for this incredible honor,” she said. “When I was younger, people teased me for loving K-pop. Now everyone is singing our song, including the Korean lyrics. I’m so proud. This award isn’t just about success—it’s about resilience.”

However, the emotional moment was suddenly interrupted when fellow musician YuHan Lee stepped forward to speak.

Before he could finish his remarks, the orchestra music started playing and his microphone was cut off. Moments later, the broadcast abruptly transitioned to a commercial break.

EJAE briefly tried to ask organizers to allow Lee to finish speaking, but the ceremony moved on and the team was not invited back on stage.

Fans Criticize Oscars for Cutting Speech

The interruption quickly sparked criticism online, with viewers accusing the ceremony organizers of being disrespectful toward the winners.

Many fans on Social Media expressed frustration that the historic moment for K-pop was not given enough time during the broadcast.

Some users said they were “still angry” about the speech being cut short, while others described the situation as “disrespectful,” arguing that other winners appeared to receive longer speaking time.

Several posts also called on the Academy to issue an apology, noting the cultural significance of the award and the importance of acknowledging global music movements like K-pop.

Backstage Reaction from the Winners

Despite the awkward on-stage moment, EJAE later spoke to reporters backstage and expressed gratitude for the recognition.

“We feel incredibly grateful and honored,” she said. “This was truly a team effort. Everyone worked so hard to bring this movie to life, and we’re so happy the effort paid off.”

She also revealed that she had planned to thank fellow collaborators on stage but was unable to do so because the speech was cut short.

“I also wanted to thank Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna on stage, but we didn’t get the chance because they cut us off. They did an amazing job singing and they’re wonderful people,” she added.

A Historic Awards Season for “Golden”

Despite the controversy surrounding the ceremony, Golden’s victory remains a landmark moment in music and film history.

The song became the first K-pop track to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song, further cementing the genre’s growing influence in global entertainment.

The achievement is also notable because Golden was written by more than four credited songwriters—an uncommon occurrence in the category.

Before winning the Oscar, the track had already enjoyed an extraordinary awards season. It secured major honors at the Grammy Awards, Critics Choice Awards, and Golden Globe Awards.

Commercially, the song was also a massive success. Golden topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight consecutive weeks, demonstrating the worldwide popularity of K-pop.

Other Major Winners at the 98th Oscars

The animated film KPop Demon Hunters also had a successful night at the Academy Awards, winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans accepted the award alongside producer Michelle LM Wong.

Other major winners of the evening included Michael B. Jordan, who took home the Best Actor award for his performance in Sinners, and Jessie Buckley, who won Best Actress for her role in Hamnet.

The biggest award of the night, Best Picture, went to Paul Thomas Anderson’s film One Battle After Another.

While the interruption of the acceptance speech sparked debate online, the historic Oscar win for Golden still represents a powerful moment for K-pop’s growing influence on the global stage.