Oscars 2026: ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ songwriters react after speech cut off, Disney TV exec says changes being considered
Joong Gyu Kwak, Mark Sonnenblick, EJAE, Hee Dong Nam, and Yu Han Lee, winners of the award for Best Original song for “Golden” from ‘K-pop Demon Hunters’ attend the Governors Ball after the Oscars
| Photo Credit: AP
The songwriting team behind KPop Demon Hunters has responded after their acceptance speech at the 98th Academy Awards was cut short, sparking debate about how winners are handled during the live broadcast. The film’s song “Golden” won Best Original Song at the ceremony, marking a historic moment for a Kpop track at the Oscars. However, the celebration was interrupted when the orchestra began playing mid-speech, preventing several members of the team from addressing the audience.
Speaking backstage, performer EJAE shared additional remarks that were not aired. “We feel very grateful and very honored. We all worked so hard and this is such a collaborative effort,” she said, adding that she had hoped to acknowledge fellow artists Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna on stage.
Producer Lee Yu-han also completed his remarks after the ceremony. “I would like to thank all our families, my fellow Idol members and Teddy Park. This is an incredible honor,” he said.
Songwriter Mark Sonnenblick echoed the sentiment, emphasising the collaborative nature of the project and its themes. “[I’d like to thank] my family… but also just to say everybody who worked on this movie, all the animators,” he said, adding that the film reflects “starting to trust, maybe even love” those once feared.
The moment quickly drew attention online, with many furious that other winners appeared to have more time for their speeches. The issue was further highlighted by another incident during the ceremony, when a microphone was lowered mid-speech during a tied award presentation.
In response to the controversy, Rob Mills, executive vice president at Walt Disney Television, acknowledged that changes may be needed. “One thing… will be to look at how we’re handling speeches,” he said, noting the difficulty of cutting off winners during a significant moment.
Mills suggested potential adjustments, including designating a single speaker or extending conversations to digital platforms. “I don’t know what the most elegant solution is, but it’s obviously something we should look really, really long and hard at,” he said.
Despite the interruption, KPop Demon Hunters also won Best Animated Feature, capping a milestone night for the film.
Published – March 17, 2026 11:58 am IST
