The 98th Academy Awards became the center of online debate after his acceptance speech for the song “Golden” was abruptly cut short, sparking accusations of unfair treatment from some concertgoers.
The song “Golden” from the Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters won the award for Best Original Song at the ceremony held at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on March 16 (Korean time). That evening the film celebrated a major achievement, securing two awards at the prestigious event.
The win had been widely anticipated, especially after “Golden” was selected for a special performance during the ceremony. Ultimately, the song triumphed over nominees including “Dear Me” by Diane never dies“Train Dreams” from Dream train“Sweet dreams of joy” from Long live Greens!and “I lied to you” from Sinners.
When the award was announced, singer-songwriter Ejae took to the stage and gave an emotional speech.
“Thank you. I am truly grateful to the Academy for giving us this incredible award,” Ejae said looking moved. “Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop, but now everyone sings these songs. As the lyrics say, this award isn’t about success, it’s about resilience.”
He went on to thank his family and the team behind the project, adding: “I am grateful to everyone who has stood by me. Thank you Netflix.”
However, as Ejae shared his message, the orchestra began playing the usual music used to signal the end of acceptance speeches. Although the artist quickly grabbed the microphone to continue, the music did not stop, forcing the winners to end their speech prematurely. Co-creators including IDO, 24, Teddy Park and Mark Lee had also taken to the stage but were unable to share their thoughts.
The moment did not go unnoticed by viewers. Korean broadcaster Ahn Hyun‑mo, who was commentating on the ceremony, noted during the live broadcast that the acceptance speech for the short film category had been given much more time, expressing disappointment that the Best Original Song winners had been cut off so quickly.
After the broadcast, some netizens wondered whether the situation reflected unequal treatment. Comments circulating online included reactions like “Is this discrimination?” AND “They were just reading prepared notes – why not give them a little more time?” Others simply expressed frustration that the creators couldn’t end their speech at such a significant moment.
Foreign media also highlighted this. CNN stated: “The Academy Awards shouldn’t treat K-pop this way.” The outlet commented: “An incident at the Oscars angered K-pop fans,” adding, “Ejae started crying as she passed the microphone to another member of the group, but at that precise moment the music that signaled her to wrap up started playing.”
The relationship continued “It seems likely that K-pop fans will explode on social media in protest,” and added, “It was a truly meaningful moment and it could have been even more wonderful if they had enough time. This is truly an embarrassing situation.”
Despite the controversy, K-Pop Demon Hunters continues to represent one of Netflix’s biggest global successes. The animated film follows a K-pop girl group who secretly battle demons while protecting the world, fusing music, fantasy and idol culture.
Since its release in June last year, the film has surpassed 500 million cumulative views worldwide, making it one of the most-watched titles in Netflix history. Its soundtrack also achieved notable success, with “Golden” reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, further cementing the film’s cultural impact.
Meanwhile, organizers of the 98th Academy Awards have officially addressed the controversy surrounding the abruptly interrupted acceptance speech by the team behind KPop Demon Hunters.
According to Variety, Rob Mills, executive vice president of Walt Disney Television, spoke in an interview to clarify the situation during the live broadcast.
Rob Mills pointed out that time limits apply to all winners, regardless of how many people take the stage. “An Oscar-winning team may have one speaker or five to six people, but everyone is still subject to the same time constraints,” he explained. He added that the Academy is considering encouraging teams to nominate a single representative for speeches, allowing others to share their thoughts backstage or via social media.
He also acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment, stating: “Isolating someone during what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience is extremely difficult.” Mills noted that timing guidelines are communicated in advance, including during pre-ceremony events, but enforcing them remains a challenge. He added that the Academy plans to review and improve how acceptance speeches are handled before next year’s ceremony.
Sources: Daum
