EJAE, center, with Audrey Nuna, right, and Rei Ami / Captured from EJAE’s social media
Producer-singer EJAE is winning hearts online — not just for her historic Oscars moment, but for how she chose to celebrate it.
Instead of a glitzy Hollywood after-party, the Korean American artist marked the night with a humble bowl of “gukbap” (rice in soup), sparking a wave of reactions across social media.
On Tuesday, EJAE shared photos on her personal account, writing, “Love you guys so much.” In the images, she is seen embracing fellow performers Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, who joined her on stage at the 98th Academy Awards to perform the song “Golden” from Netflix’s global hit “KPop Demon Hunters.”
EJAE proudly held up her gold Oscar trophy — but it was her next post that truly caught fans’ attention. The singer uploaded a photo of herself enjoying a steaming bowl the traditional Korean rice soup topped generously with green onions.
The contrast between Hollywood glamour and a down-to-earth Korean meal quickly went viral, with many fans praising EJAE for “staying true to her roots” and calling the moment “the most Korean celebration possible.”
Academy Award trophy / Captured from EJAE’s social media
The ceremony took place Sunday (local time) at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “KPop Demon Hunters,” released on Netflix in June last year, achieved global success and won two awards: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden.”
During her emotional acceptance speech, EJAE said, “Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop. Now everyone is singing our song, and in all of the Korean lyrics. I’m so proud,” as she broke into tears.
In a backstage interview following the ceremony, she added that she’s grateful to fans in Korea, and that she dedicates the song and the film to Korea, expressing heartfelt appreciation to her home audience.
As clips and photos from the night continue to circulate, EJAE’s “gukbap” celebration has become an unexpected highlight — turning a personal moment into a symbol of cultural pride that resonates far beyond the Oscars stage.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.