‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami Get BAFTAs Crowd Singing With ‘Golden’ Performance

The BAFTA Film Awards ceremony featured a special premiere performance as the vocalists of the animated act Huntr/x took the stage to perform their worldwide single "Golden" live for the first time in Europe. EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami—the singers behind the characters from Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters"—executed a high-octane routine accompanied by dancers in matching red, brown, and gold outfits. Among the celebrity attendees, actor and noted superfan Chase Infiniti was captured on camera passionately singing every lyric from his seat.

This theatrical presentation began with EJAE performing alone before Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami made unexpected entrances from opposite sides of the auditorium, interacting with the audience as they converged on the main stage. The high-profile booking was especially striking given the film's own contested status with the academy. BAFTA had previously disqualified "KPop Demon Hunters" from awards eligibility, a decision upheld despite a formal appeal from Netflix. The streamer had cited an "exceptional circumstances" clause, arguing that a limited theatrical run commencing two months after its Netflix premiere should suffice. However, the academy stood by its requirement for a conventional qualifying release, highlighting the ongoing tension between established cinematic norms and the flexible distribution models of streaming services.

Media analyst Clara Vance noted that such disputes are increasingly common. "Awards bodies are continually adapting their rules, but the core eligibility criteria often remain a barrier for projects designed for digital-first audiences," she observed. "Paradoxically, inviting the film's performers demonstrates a clear attempt to harness the cultural buzz these streaming phenomena create, even when they don't conform to traditional award pathways." This friction reflects a broader industry recalibration, where platforms like Netflix—which revolutionized content consumption with its on-demand model—continue to challenge long-held definitions of a theatrical film.

Despite its BAFTA exclusion, "KPop Demon Hunters" is a powerhouse in the current awards season. The film is a leading nominee at the Oscars, contending for both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for "Golden." Its awards potential was decisively confirmed the previous weekend at the Annie Awards, the animation industry's most prestigious honors, where it secured a remarkable 10 wins. These included the top award for Best Animated Feature, a category historically dominated by studios like Pixar and Studio Ghibli. This dominant showing underscores the project's artistic and technical achievements, solidifying its impact far beyond the debate over its release strategy.