The song “Golden” made history at the 2026 Academy Awards by becoming the first K-pop track ever to win Best Original Song, but the milestone moment was overshadowed by controversy after one of the winners’ acceptance speeches was abruptly cut off.
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Songwriter Ejae led the acceptance speech as she and fellow co-writers Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo and Teddy Park took the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 15.
An emotional Ejae thanked the academy and reflected on the significance of the win. She said that growing up she was often teased for her love of K-pop, but now audiences around the world were singing along to Korean lyrics from their song.
She added that the award symbolised resilience rather than just success and thanked her family, fiancé, manager, and the teams behind the animated film KPop Demon Hunters, including Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation.
However, the celebratory moment took an awkward turn when one of the co-writers stepped forward to deliver additional thanks. As he began speaking, the orchestra started playing to signal the end of the allotted time, cutting the speech short and prompting organisers to usher the winners offstage.
Sonnenblick appeared visibly frustrated as the group was moved away, reacting with gestures that suggested disappointment over the abrupt ending.
The incident quickly sparked criticism online, with many viewers arguing the winners should have been given more time, especially after achieving a historic milestone for K-pop at the Oscars.
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Despite the controversy, the evening remained significant for the film. Maggie Kang also took the stage earlier after the movie won Best Animated Feature, delivering an emotional speech about representation in animation and the importance of diverse storytelling.