‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Singer Ejae ‘Made Mistakes’ During BAFTAs Performance After Seeing Leonardo DiCaprio: ‘He Was Not Smiling’ and ‘That’s What Put Me Off’
EJAE, a vocalist and co-writer behind the song “Golden” from Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters”, said she made mistakes during a BAFTAs performance after being distracted by Leonardo DiCaprio in the audience. She said his unsmiling expression and eye contact made an already nerve-racking appearance before celebrities more difficult, illustrating her relative newness to major awards-stage performances.
DiCaprio attended the London ceremony as an acting nominee for “One Battle After Another”, while EJAE performed “Golden” with Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, the singing voices of the fictional group Huntr/x. Although the BAFTAs have no original-song category, “Golden” subsequently won the Oscar, with EJAE credited as a writer, and became the first K-pop song to win both an Oscar and a Grammy; a sequel to “KPop Demon Hunters” is being developed.
- EJAE said DiCaprio’s presence unsettled her BAFTAs performance.
- She said she cracked slightly on high notes.
- “Golden” later won both Oscar and Grammy honours.