‘Rejection Is Redirection’: How the Rejected K-Pop Trainee Behind ‘Demon Hunters’ Beat Miley Cyrus at the Golden Globes

Sunday night’s 2026 Golden Globes were supposed to be a coronation for Hollywood heavyweights. But when the envelope for Best Original Song was opened, the room gasped. The winner wasn't Miley Cyrus, Mark Ronson, or Nick Cave.

The winner was "Golden," the infectious anthem from Netflix’s animated smash KPop Demon Hunters. And the woman who walked up to accept it delivered a speech that instantly went viral.

"I Worked Tirelessly for 10 Years"

Ejae, the singer and co-writer of the track, took the stage hyperventilating and fighting back tears. Standing before the Hollywood elite, she revealed the painful backstory that makes this victory so sweet.

"When I was a little girl, I worked tirelessly for ten years to fill one dream: to become a K-pop idol," Ejae told the crowd. "I was rejected and disappointed that my voice wasn’t good enough. So I wrote songs... to get through it."

She closed with a line that is already being tattooed on fans across social media: "I can confidently say rejection is redirection."

A Global Juggernaut

The win for "Golden" wasn't the only victory lap. KPop Demon Hunters also took home Best Animated Feature, beating out massive competitors like Disney’s Zootopia 2 and the anime giant Demon Slayer.

It’s a fitting crown for a film that became Netflix's most-watched movie of all time within just two months of its release. Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans described the film as a "love letter to music" and its power to connect us.

Watch the Song That Won It All

The track itself, which hit Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, is a masterclass in pop production. Check out the official video below:

More Than Just a Cartoon

For the cast, this project was personal. Arden Cho, who voices the lead character Rumi, admitted that the movie's themes of fighting "demons" mirrored her own struggles with self-hatred and identity as an Asian-American.

As the film now heads toward the Oscars, one thing is clear: The K-Pop wave isn't just a trend anymore. It’s the new gold standard.

🏆 Did you watch the ceremony? Read about the other big winner of the night, Sinners, which took home Best Score for Ludwig Göransson right here.