During the March 15 ceremony, KPop Demon Hunters won Best Original Song, but as the team continued their acceptance speech, music suddenly played and cut them off, sparking criticism online.
In a post-ceremony interview with Deadline, Rob Mills, Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Television, acknowledged the situation and addressed the limitations of a live broadcast.
“It’s a tough show because you’re trying to balance so many things,” Mills said, explaining the difficulty of managing timing during a global live event.
He emphasized that strict time constraints are unavoidable, noting:
“Everyone is told ahead of time, and there are countdown clocks in the room.”
Mills clarified that the interruption was not intentional targeting, but rather part of keeping the show within its scheduled runtime.
At the same time, he admitted the outcome was not ideal and needs improvement.
“You don’t want anyone to walk away feeling bad or that their moment was cut short,” he said.
The production team is now reviewing the situation and considering changes for future ceremonies. According to Mills, possible solutions include:
- Having a designated speaker for each winning team
- Allowing extended remarks backstage or on social media
He also acknowledged that there is no perfect solution when it comes to balancing emotional moments and broadcast timing.
“There’s no perfect answer, but we’re always trying to make the show better,” Mills added.
Concluding the discussion, he expressed hope that similar issues can be avoided in the future:
“Hopefully, we can make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.”
Meanwhile, KPop Demon Hunters made history at this year’s Oscars by winning two awards, including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, marking a significant milestone for K-pop’s global expansion into film and music.
Sources: MBC Entertainment News,Deadline