‘KPop Demon Hunters’ had a historic run the Oscarsreceiving awards for best animated feature film and best original song, it was nominated in two categories. EJAE, who penned the chart-topping song ‘Golden’, scored a historic victory, becoming the first K-Pop song to win at the Academy Awards. However, the group’s moment of triumph was unfortunately cut short when Yu Han Lee, who was playing music from the live orchestra, began a short note of thanks. As the audience booed the orchestra, fans took to social media to slam the Academy and call out their double standards. Many noted, “White people are allowed 7 minute speeches, but poko winners don’t even get a chance to speak Disgusting,” read one post. Many others called the move “racist”, “rude” and “disrespectful”.
The Oscars called for the “Golden” speech to be cut
Earlier, India’s own Guneet Monga, producer of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, was “shocked” when his acceptance speech was interrupted by music, prompting a backlash from the audience.
Oscars to review conference protocol
Now, after the backlash, the organizers of the Academy Awards will re-evaluate how the acceptance speeches are handled. Addressing Sunday’s incident, Rob Mills, the executive who oversees the Oscars broadcast, said the issue would be a key focus of post-ceremony discussions.Speaking to Variety on Monday, Mills acknowledged the challenges of managing multiple winners under tight broadcast deadlines. He said: “One thing, as we do the post-mortem for next year, will be to look at how we’re handling the speeches. You win an Oscar, you go up on stage, it could be one person, it could be five or six. Immediately, you’ll see how much time we’re giving them.”Mills suggested the changes include requiring candidates to appoint a single spokesperson to deliver the winners speech or a widespread restriction on digital platforms to shift team speeches to the stage.He added, “We look at everything and figure out the most elegant solution, because it’s difficult, especially when you’re cutting someone and it’s their only moment.”The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which oversees the awards, has yet to formally announce any changes.
