Oscars fans demand formal apology after ‘painful’ moment winner’s speech is cut short

Oscars viewers were less than impressed when Yu Han Lee’s speech was cut short (Picture: Reuters)

Oscars fans have called for the Academy to apologise to one of its winners after the ‘extremely messed up’ moment when his speech was cut very short.

Tonight saw Netflix hit Kpop Demon Hunters take home two awards, one for animated feature film and another for best original song.

But while the lively tune Golden was being honoured, one of the most ‘painful’ moments of the ceremony also occurred.

Singer-songwriter Ejae accepted the trophy, having also belted out the track with Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami in a stunning performance that saw the whole Dolby Theatre wave lights in the air.

She began her speech alongside co-writers Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park.

Visibly emotional, she said: ‘Growing up, people made fun of me liking K-Pop, but now everyone’s singing our song and all the Korean lyrics.

Ejae took to the stage to accept the best original song award, joined by co-writers Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park (Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

‘I’m so proud, and I realised, the song, like this award, is not about success; it’s about resilience.’

Indeed, the Huntrix lyrics have resonated with many worldwide, causing the single to top the charts and become the first K-pop song to win a Grammy and an Oscar.

However, when Lee took to the mic to deliver his acceptance speech, the higher-ups obviously had other ideas.

In a clip that has since gone viral on social media, he walked up holding a piece of paper, having prepared what he wanted to say.

‘I’d like to thank…’, he began, only able to get out four short words before his voice was drowned out by music, signalling that his time was up.

Fellow songwriter and composer Sonnenblick began jumping up and down in protest, while Ejae was clearly upset and begged for a few more seconds.

The Golden singer grew emotional as she expressed her gratitude for the historic victory (Picture: Reuters) Viewers are demanding an apology for Lee, who only managed to get four words out before he was drowned out by music (Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Unfortunately, despite their efforts, the Oscars were having none of it. While he continued trying to speak, the camera panned out, and a voiceover resumed, announcing that the awards for best director and best actor were coming up after the commercial break.

Taking to X after witnessing the carnage, @zakfilm raged: ‘This was absolutely shameful by the Academy to not stop the music even after they asked for more time. Especially after they just did a live performance for Golden, they deserved to have their moment to talk.’

@JamiUwUs declared that Lee ‘deserved his moment’, while @alamanecer said the film ‘deserved so much better than this’.

@pixielexiee called for a ‘formal apology’ and @WaashyV2 blasted the move as ‘disgustingly disrespectful’.

‘That poor guy, you can tell English isn’t his first language and he probably practiced a lot for that moment and they cut him off like that!!! [sic]’, said @Szamaximoff.

’Respectfully if they wanna save time they can cut down their unfunny useless jokes and give more time for the speeches’, @zendayaxhat quipped.

Rei Ami, Ejae, and Audrey Nuna performed their lively tune tonight (Picture: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Last year, Adrien Brody broke the record for the longest-ever speech, coming in at five minutes and 40 seconds (Picture: Frank Micelotta/Disney via Getty Images)

‘I could cry I feel so bad’, added @CoolwithaKatie. ‘the cast needs to record his speech and post it so we can hear what they so rudely cut off’.

Several others asked ‘where was this energy for Adrien Brody last year’, after the American actor, 52, took home best actor for his role in The Brutalist.

He delivered the longest-ever acceptance speech at five minutes and 40 seconds, opening by thanking his castmates and crew before reflecting on issues prevalent in society, such as racism, antisemitism, and war.

Before Brody, the record was held by actress Greer Garson, who won best actress for Mrs. Miniver in 1943. Her speech lasted for five minutes and 30 seconds.

Because of this, the Academy ultimately introduced a 45-second cap on speeches to avoid overrunning on airtime and to ensure fairness across the board for winners. However, as has become apparent, the cap isn’t always adhered to.

Other winners to have waffled on for longer in the past include Hilary Swank and Al Pacino, who have all defied the rules.

As for the shortest speeches, well, those are when recipients simply say ‘Thank you’ and walk off.

Some of the more concise speeches of previous years include Rita Moreno for West Side Story in 1962, who said, ‘I can’t believe it! Good Lord. I leave you with that!’, and Alfred Hitchcock, who had just five words in response to his Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1968: ‘Thank you… very much indeed.’

In more recent award seasons, after being presented with the best documentary trophy for The Cove in 2009, photographer Louie Psihoyos merely said, ‘Thank you,’ before he was cued off by the orchestra, since producer Fisher Stevens had already eaten up time with his speech.

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