EJAE has said that seeing an unsmiling Leonardo DiCaprio in the front row made her particularly nervous while performing “Golden” at the 2026 BAFTAs. She felt the pressure contributed to a crack on high notes, illustrating the anxiety of performing before a high-profile audience despite her recent success.

EJAE, who voices Rumi in Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters and co-wrote the song, said she locked eyes with DiCaprio shortly before a demanding vocal moment. “Golden” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later won the Oscar for best original song, while EJAE and fellow HUNTR/X performers Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna also received Grammy and Golden Globe recognition; she additionally recalled praise from Beyoncé at an afterparty.