Oscars Interruption Forces 'Golden' Songwriters to Finish Historic Speech Backstage
In a moment that blended triumph with frustration, the songwriting team behind the hit track 'Golden' from the film 'KPop Demon Hunters' experienced both the peak of Hollywood recognition and a classic awards show cutoff at the 98th Academy Awards. Moments after their song secured the Oscar for Best Original Song, the group was abruptly played off the stage mid-speech during the live broadcast, denying them a full televised celebration.
A Historic Win Cut Short
The victory itself marked a significant milestone in entertainment history, as 'Golden' became the first-ever K-pop song to win the Oscar for Best Original Song. This groundbreaking achievement for the genre was immediately overshadowed by the abrupt technical interruption that occurred just as Yu Han Lee began speaking onstage. According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, the sudden cutoff was followed immediately by a commercial break, drawing audible gasps from journalists and attendees in the backstage press area.
That collective reaction carried directly into the press room where the team regrouped after the broadcast segment ended. Determined to share their gratitude properly, they used this secondary platform to deliver the thank-yous that millions of viewers never heard during the live telecast.
The Unheard Thank-Yous
EJAE, one of the song's creators, expressed both gratitude and frustration to reporters gathered backstage. "We feel very grateful and very honored," she stated. "We all worked so hard and this is such a collaborative effort. We just need to thank our directors who created a beautiful film. Everyone was a part of it and we are just so happy that the hard work paid off."
She specifically noted important acknowledgments that were missed due to the premature cutoff. "Also, I needed to thank Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna onstage, but I didn't get to because they just cut us off," EJAE explained. "They killed it with their singing and they're just incredible people and I love them so much."
Completing the Circle of Gratitude
Yu Han Lee seized the backstage opportunity to finish the remarks he had been unable to complete during the broadcast. "I would like to thank all our families, my fellow Idol members and Teddy Park," he said. "This is an incredible honor."
Mark Sonnenblick, another key contributor who also missed his chance to speak during the telecast, used the press room moment to emphasize both personal thanks and the film's broader message. "[I'd like to thank] my family, some of whom are here tonight, my husband, Isaac, who is here tonight," he began. "But also just to say everybody who worked on this movie, all the animators, it was a real collaboration across the board."
He then connected the song to the film's central themes. "It's a movie where part of the story is about looking at someone that you have been taught to hate and to fear and starting to trust, maybe even love them," Sonnenblick elaborated. "And that's part of what the movie is about."
Sonnenblick concluded with a poignant observation about the song's lyrics that resonated with the collaborative spirit of their Oscar night. "[The song lyrics are not] 'I'm going up, up, up.' It's 'We're going up, up, up.'"
A Bigger Night for 'KPop Demon Hunters'
The historic win for 'Golden' was part of an even more successful evening for 'KPop Demon Hunters,' which also secured the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. This double victory created an especially memorable Oscar night for the film's creative team, blending groundbreaking musical achievement with top animation honors.
The backstage completion of their acceptance speech, while unplanned, provided an intimate glimpse into the genuine gratitude and collaborative spirit behind one of the year's most significant entertainment milestones. What began as a frustrating technical interruption transformed into a more personal, reflective moment of appreciation away from the glare of television cameras.
