‘K-pop Demon Hunters’ Oscar speech cut sparks global backlash

17 Mar 2026, 05:24 by Minsoo-Kim · allkpop

The 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' controversy continues to gain traction overseas for a second day, following criticism over its acceptance speech being cut short at the Academy Awards.

According to a report by Forbes on March 16 (local time), viewers expressed anger after the team’s speech ended abruptly during the ceremony.

At the 98th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the Netflix film won both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for 'Golden. The audience celebrated enthusiastically, waving light sticks in support.

However, controversy arose when the acceptance speech for Best Original Song was interrupted. As one of the winners shared, “When I was younger, I was teased for liking K-pop, but now everyone sings along—even in Korean,” the microphone and stage lights were suddenly cut off, and transition music began playing before the speech could conclude.

Following the incident, many viewers voiced criticism on social media, with some calling the situation “disappointing,” especially given that “Golden” marked the first K-pop song to win Best Original Song, and the winners included the first Korean recipients in the category.

Some reactions pointed out that if time constraints were an issue, the ceremony could have reduced unnecessary segments instead of cutting off winners mid speech.

The outlet also referenced past controversies at the Oscars, including the moment during the 'Parasite' win in 2020 when stage lights were briefly turned off during the acceptance speech, drawing protests from attendees before being restored.

While criticism continues, the win itself remains historic, highlighting the growing global influence of K-pop and Asian artists—even as debates over representation and fairness persist within major international award shows.

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