The Academy has responded to backlash over cutting off "KPop Demon Hunters"’ acceptance speech at the Oscars, saying it will “find a more elegant solution.”
Rob Mills, executive vice president at Walt Disney Television and the lead for this year’s Oscars broadcast, addressed the controversy in a March 16 interview with Variety.
“Every winner has a limited window to speak, and if they go over, the broadcast may have to cut them off,” Mills said. “We’re reviewing several options, including designating a lead speaker or moving the rest of the remarks to backstage or social media.”
“Interrupting someone’s speech―especially in a once-in-a-lifetime moment―is incredibly tough,” he added. “We’re keeping all options on the table and looking for the most elegant fix.”
The issue erupted during Best Original Song. "KPop Demon Hunters" won with "Golden". Singer and co-lyricist/composer EJAE, co-lyricist Mark Sonnenblick, and THEBLACKLABEL producers Gwak Joong-gyu, Lee Yu-han, Nam Hee-dong, and Seo Jeong-hun took the stage to accept.
“Thank you to the Academy for this incredible honor,” EJAE said. “This song isn’t about success―it’s about healing. As a kid, people made fun of me for loving K-pop. Now everyone is singing our song. I’m proud.”
But as co-winner Lee Yu-han reached for the mic, the show played the exit music, cut the audio, and even turned off the stage lights.
The Oscars run about three hours live each year. Producers tell winners they have 45 seconds for remarks to keep the show on time. But the "KPop Demon Hunters" team wasn’t even given the full 45 seconds and was hurried offstage. Outlets including CNN and Rolling Stone called it a moment that “would anger K-pop fans,” criticizing the show’s handling.
They weren’t the only ones rushed. Other winners were also nudged by play-off music when speeches ran long. Still, with Best Original Song slotted right before the night’s biggest categories―Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Picture―the "KPop Demon Hunters" team faced the harshest treatment: a hard mute and a stage blackout.
The Oscars’ play-off problem comes up every year. After the "KPop Demon Hunters" incident, all eyes are on whether the Academy will deliver a smarter fix.
<Photo = getty images>
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)
댓글