Oscars Producer Addresses Backlash Over K-Pop 'Golden' Speech Cut-Off
Walt Disney Television executive Rob Mills addresses the controversy surrounding the abrupt cut-off of the acceptance speech for 'Golden' from 'KPop Demon Hunters' at the Oscars.
Award show viewers are accustomed to acceptance speeches being cut short, but the Oscars faced criticism for abruptly interrupting the songwriters behind KPop Demon Hunters' hit "Golden" during their win. Walt Disney Television executive VP Rob Mills has responded to the backlash.
In an interview with Variety, Mills, a producer for the Oscars, acknowledged the issue and indicated a reevaluation of their approach for next year. "One thing, as we post mortem for next year, will be to look at how we’re handling speeches," he stated.
Mills elaborated on the complexities of managing speech times, saying, “You win the Oscar, you know you go on stage, it could be one person, it could be five or six. Immediately you’ll see the sort of allotted time we have for them. Do we need to look at it and say, ‘OK, designate one person to speak.’ Maybe you continue it backstage, and we have a feed on social or something like that. 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.” He admitted they are seeking a more refined solution.
"I don't know what the most elegant solution is, but it's obviously something we should look really, really long and hard at."
At the ceremony, "Golden" triumphed over songs from Sinners, Viva Verdi!, Train Dreams, and Diane Warren: Relentless. Only EJAE, who voices Rumi in KPop Demon Hunters, delivered her full remarks.
“Thank you so much to the academy for this insane award,” she expressed. “Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop, but now everyone’s singing our song and all the Korean lyrics. I’m so proud. And I realized, the song, this award is not about success. It’s about resilience.”
When cowriter Yu-Han Lee began his speech, the orchestra played over him. The songwriters were visibly upset but were ushered backstage, where they eventually finished their speeches.
Despite the interruption, KPop Demon Hunters' win remains significant. "Golden" is the first K-pop song to win an Oscar, adding to the film's accolades since its premiere.
Adding to their success, EJAE and fellow HUNTR/X vocalists, AUDREY NUNA and REI AMI, will share Billboard's Woman of the Year award at the Billboard Women in Music Awards in April.
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