“KPop Demon Hunters” won two awards at the 2026 Oscars ceremony held in Los Angeles on Sunday, but the winners were abruptly interrupted during both acceptance speeches.
The Netflix original animated musical fantasy film won Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Best Animation for its hit song “Golden,” sung by Ije, Audrey Nuna, and Lei Ami.
Ije was able to convey his emotional gratitude, but before the rest of the cast could contribute, interrupted music began to play.
Despite the singer’s pleas to be given more time, the music continued and then the lights went out.
A similar situation unfolded at the beginning of the ceremony when “KPop Demon Hunters” was selected as the Best Animated Work. Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans accepted the award along with producer Michelle Wong.
Interruption music started playing before the trio finished speaking, but it quickly quieted down so they could finish.
“And for people who look like me, it’s really unfortunate that it took so long for us to be in a movie like this. But here it is: I mean, the next generation doesn’t have to look up to it,” said South Korean-born Kang.
Appelhans also said that movies have the power to “bring us together as human beings across cultures and borders.”
He added, “I want to take a moment and say to all the young filmmakers, artists, and musicians around the world: tell your story, sing with your voice, and I promise you the world is waiting.”
While fans were elated by the night’s win, many were upset by the interruption to their stars’ performances.
“Their behavior towards the producers of K-Pop Demon Hunter who let them speak at the Oscars was extremely disrespectful…even though I said I was glad they won,” one of the many critics posted on X.
“That cut-off music during K-Pop’s Demon Hunter speech was as rude as the Oscars,” someone else chimed in, while a third observed, “They’re going to cut K-Pop’s Demon Hunter speech short while Amy Madigan is in #Oscars forever.”
Another objector argued, “We have time for these awful jokes, but we don’t have time for K-Pop Demon Hunter speeches… #Oscars.”
Yet another X user wrote, “Please let that guy finish his speech…this is no way to celebrate such a huge cultural phenomenon,” while someone else added: “No, I’m sorry, I’m still furious about them cutting off that speech over Golden K-Pop Demon Hunter’s win, which was an unkind #Oscar.”
One netizen went so far as to claim that the “KPop Demon Hunters” winner was “given less time than any other award winner,” calling the move “totally disrespectful” and demanding that the award showrunner make an “apology.”
