Oscars to review winners' speech protocol after 'Golden' cutoff sparks uproar and racism claims

'KPop Demon Hunters' had a historic run at the Oscars, picking up the awards for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song, both categories in which it was nominated. EJAE, who wrote the chart-topping track 'Golden', scored a historic win, thus becoming the first K-Pop song to win in the history of the Oscars.

However, the team's winning moment was sadly cut short with the live orchestra playing music just as Yu Han Lee began his short note of thanks. While the audience booed at the orchestra, fans took to social media to slam the Academy and call them out for their double standards. Many noted, "White people are allowed 7-minute-long speeches but poc winners don’t even get a chance to talk Disgusting," read a post. Several others slammed the move as 'racist', 'rude' and 'disrespectful'.

Oscars called out for cutting off 'Golden' speech

Previously, India's own, Guneet Monga, the producer of the Oscar-winning documentary 'The Elephant Whisperers', was in for a "huge shock" when her acceptance speech was cut off by music, prompting backlash from viewers.

Oscars to review speech protocol

Now, following the backlash, organisers of the Academy Awards are set to re-evaluate how acceptance speeches are managed. Addressing the incident on Sunday, Rob Mills, the executive overseeing the Oscars broadcast, said the issue would be a key focus in post-ceremony discussions.

Speaking to Variety on Monday, Mills acknowledged the challenges of managing multiple winners within strict broadcast time limits. He said, "One thing, as we post-mortem for next year, will be to look at how we’re handling speeches. You win the Oscar, 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."

Mills suggested that changes could include asking nominees to designate a single spokesperson to deliver the winners' speech or shift group speeches backstage to feature an extended cut on digital platforms.

He added, "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."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which oversees the awards, has not yet formally announced any changes.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”