‘Golden’ wins amid backlash
“Golden” from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters won Best Original Song at the 2026 Oscars — but the winners’ acceptance speeches were cut short live, sparking widespread online backlash and coverage Billboard Billboard.
EJAE opened the group’s remarks and, when co-writer Yu‑Han Lee stepped up, the orchestra’s play‑off cue drowned him out and the broadcast cut to commercial during the March 15 telecast. (billboard.com) “Golden” lists seven credited writers — EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu‑Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo and Teddy Park — making it the first Oscar-winning song with more than four writers and subject to the Academy’s rule limiting individual statuettes. (billboard.com) After the onstage interruption the songwriting team finished their thank‑yous in the Oscars press room, where Yu‑Han Lee called the result “an incredible honor” and Mark Sonnenblick shouted out his family and husband. (billboard.com) Viewers on X and other platforms flooded the moment with outrage — posts used language such as “rude af” and argued the team was unfairly ushered off, while audience members in the theater reportedly booed as lights dimmed and music played. (billboard.com) Coverage from international outlets and fan communities framed the incident as part of a larger debate about how the Academy treats Asian artists, with several outlets reporting accusations of racial bias circulating online. (chosun.com) Rob Mills, the Walt Disney Television executive who oversaw the telecast, told reporters he’ll “post‑mortem” the show and consider fixes — including designating a single speaker or routing extra remarks to a backstage feed — as the Academy reviews speech protocols. (dexerto.com)
