Oscars 2026: Academy Addresses Backstage Speech Issues Following ‘Golden’ Win

The 98th Academy Awards saw a historic win for K-pop with “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” taking home the Best Original Song award. However, the moment was marred by controversy when the acceptance speech was abruptly cut short, sparking criticism and prompting the Academy to address concerns about handling acceptance speeches in the future.

Historic Win Overshadowed by Speech Interruption

EJAE, a singer-songwriter and key member of the K-pop group Huntrix, along with collaborators Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park, accepted the award. As Yu Han Lee began to speak, the orchestra began playing, signaling the end of their time onstage. This abrupt ending led to visible confusion and boos from the audience, as reported by Mashable.

EJAE’s Post-Speech Remarks

Backstage, EJAE expressed gratitude for the win and explained what she had hoped to say during the broadcast. According to E! Online, she wanted to specifically thank her Huntrix bandmates, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna, for their vocal contributions and dedication to the project.

Academy Responds to Criticism

Walt Disney Television’s Rob Mills addressed the issue in a post-Oscars interview with Billboard, stating that the Academy will review how it handles speeches in the future. Mills suggested potential solutions, including designating a single speaker or continuing speeches backstage with a social media feed.

“We look at everything and figure out what is the most elegant solution, because it is difficult, especially when you’re cutting somebody off and it’s their one moment,” Mills explained.

Other Speech Interruptions

The issue wasn’t isolated to the “Golden” team. Alexandre Singh, the filmmaker of “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” too experienced his speech being cut short as the microphone lowered during his remarks.

Looking Ahead

The Academy’s acknowledgement of the issue signals a commitment to improving the acceptance speech process for future ceremonies. The goal is to balance time constraints with the importance of allowing winners to fully express their gratitude and celebrate their achievements.