Oscar Win for 'Golden' Highlights K-Pop's Impact Despite Stage Interruption

The songwriting team of 'Golden' from KPop Demon Hunters celebrated their Oscar win for Best Original Song, but their acceptance speech was cut short, leading to backlash from the audience and viewers. Despite the interruption, the composers later expressed their gratitude in the press room, highlighting the collaborative effort behind the film's music and the importance of empathy and understanding. Ejae, one of the team members, shared her personal journey as a K-pop fan, reflecting on the song's impact. The night ended on a celebratory note for the creators of this memorable track.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 16, 2026, 10:47 IST

Oscar Triumph for 'Golden'

For many artists, winning an Oscar is a pinnacle achievement, and for the songwriting team behind the hit song 'Golden' from KPop Demon Hunters, the moment was bittersweet. During the live airing of the 98th Academy Awards, some members of the winning team were unexpectedly cut off mid-speech as the orchestra began to play them off. This abrupt interruption drew boos from both the audience present and viewers online, who deemed the treatment 'unacceptable'.

Celebrating the Oscar Win

Golden wins the Oscar but...

The talented composers, including Yu-Han Lee, Mark Sonnenblick, and Ejae, were awarded the Best Original Song for their vibrant and heartfelt track. This victory is a significant achievement for the animated musical, which encapsulates the lively spirit of K-pop while addressing themes of identity, resilience, and acceptance. However, the joy of the moment was momentarily overshadowed when Lee's speech was abruptly halted. He had just begun to express his thoughts when the orchestra signaled that their time was up.

Composers Share Their Thoughts Post-Ceremony

Golden composers speak up after Oscars

Later that evening, the composers had the chance to address the media in the press room at the Dolby Theatre, where they could finally share their gratitude that was cut short on stage. Lee expressed his appreciation for the support they received throughout their creative journey, stating, “I would like to thank our families, and 24, and our fellow IDO members,” and referred to the Oscar win as an “incredible honour.”

Sonnenblick also highlighted the collaborative nature of the film's music, thanking his family members who attended the ceremony and acknowledging the contributions of all artists involved. He remarked, “My family, some of them here tonight… everybody who worked on this movie, all the animators, it was a real collaboration across the board.” He emphasized the film's core message of understanding and empathy, explaining, “Part of the movie is about looking at someone that you had been taught to hate and to fear, and starting to trust, maybe even love them.”

Reflections on K-Pop and Acceptance

Sonnenblick further acknowledged the fans who embraced both the film and its soundtrack, likening filmmaking to a community effort where many contribute to the final product. Earlier in the ceremony, Ejae was the only member of the songwriting team who managed to deliver a complete speech before the orchestra played. She shared her personal journey as a K-pop fan during a time when it was not widely accepted, saying, “Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop. But now everyone’s singing our song and all the Korean lyrics.” Despite the brief disruption during their acceptance speech, the composers concluded the night on a high note, celebrating their remarkable achievement with one of the year's standout songs.