Singer Ejae, star of the film "KPop Demon Hunters," revealed that actor Leonardo DiCaprio's presence in the audience at the 2026 BAFTA Awards performance impacted her delivery. Ejae told The Times that she made mistakes and "cracked a little bit on the high notes" during her performance of the song "Golden."
"Leonardo DiCaprio was [in the audience] right in front of me, and he was not smiling," Ejae recalled. "That's what put me off. He made me so nervous. It was already so nerve-racking to be in front of all these celebrities, and then I look up and lock eyes with Leonardo DiCaprio? Come on."
The singer was performing one of the highest notes in her Oscar-winning song when she made eye contact with DiCaprio. Despite the nerve-wracking moment, "Golden" swept the 2026 awards season, earning an Oscar for Best Original Song and contributing to the trio's success at the Brit Awards, Golden Globes, and Grammys.
Ejae, who voiced Rumi in "KPop Demon Hunters," performed "Golden" with Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami. The film features the fictional K-pop group HUNTR/X, whose members lead secret lives as martial arts-trained demon hunters.
In the same interview, Ejae also recounted an encounter with Beyoncé and Jay-Z at an afterparty. Jay-Z introduced himself to Ejae as Shawn, and Beyoncé complimented her voice, stating that her daughters sing "Golden."