The Oscars Cuts ‘Golden’ Acceptance Speech Midway, Sparking Backlash Online

The film’s songwriting team tried to speak as the music played and the lights dimmed during the ceremony

By Elijah Pareño March 16, 2026

Kpop Demon Hunters speech cut — The win marks the film’s second Oscar of the evening, following its victory in the Best Animated Film category. Photo from Kpop Demon Hunters/IMDB

On March 16, “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters won the Oscar for Best Original Song, credited to EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park. The winners walked onto the stage to accept the award, but their acceptance speech was cut short after only a few minutes.

As the group accepted the Best Original Song award for “Golden,” EJAE spoke onstage, saying, “Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop, but now everyone’s singing our song and all the Korean lyrics. I’m so proud. And I realized this award isn’t about success — it’s about resilience.”

Just as she was about to mention her collaborators, the music began to play. EJAE raised her hand and said, “Please stop.” The music continued as her fellow winners tried to speak, and the lights dimmed before the broadcast cut to commercial. Reactions online were quick to criticize the moment, with commentators calling the cutoff “disrespectful” and “rude.”

The win marks the film’s second Oscar of the evening, following its victory in the Best Animated Film category.

Other nominees for Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards included “I Lied to You” from Sinners, written by Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Göransson; “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams, written by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner; “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless, written by Diane Warren; and “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi!, written by Nicholas Pike.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Oscars cut off the ‘Golden’ acceptance speech?

As EJAE was about to thank her collaborators after winning Best Original Song for “Golden,” the orchestra began playing over her, and the broadcast cut to commercial despite her asking, “Please stop.”

What did EJAE say before her speech was cut off?

EJAE spoke about facing mockery for liking K-pop growing up, saying, “I realized this award isn’t about success — it’s about resilience,” before the music cut her off mid-speech.

How did people react to the Oscars cutting off the speech?

Online reactions criticized the moment, with commentators calling the cutoff “disrespectful” and “rude” toward the “Golden” songwriting team during their Best Original Song win.

Who wrote ‘Golden’ from ‘KPop Demon Hunters’?

“Golden” is credited to EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park, who accepted the Oscar together onstage.

What other songs were nominated for Best Original Song at the 2026 Oscars?

Other nominees included “I Lied to You” from Sinners, “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams, “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless, and “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi!