Music vocalist EJAE revealed that seeing an unsmiling Leonardo DiCaprio in the front row of the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards caused her to crack on high notes during her performance of Golden
, a moment that ironically mirrored her animated character's own vocal slip in Netflix's hit film KPop Demon Hunters
.
Awards season glitz can rattle even the most seasoned performers, but pop vocalists stepping onto a major television stage for the first time face an entirely different magnitude of pressure. For vocalist EJAE, the root of her much-discussed vocal mishap at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards came down to locking eyes with Leonardo DiCaprio sitting front and center in the audience.
The BAFTA Performance That Still Haunts the Vocalist
Appearing at the Royal Festival Hall in London during the February ceremony, EJAE joined Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami to perform their first major televised performance as HUNTR/X, the fictional K-pop trio from Netflix's animated smash Variety. The evening was already dominated by One Battle After Another,
which claimed six wins, including Best Film and Best Director. Among the star-studded crowd was DiCaprio, an acting nominee for that film who ultimately lost out to “I Swear” star Robert Aramayo.
For EJAE, spotting the Titanic star staring back at her right before a crucial high note proved overwhelming.
“The BAFTAs haunt me. I made mistakes. I cracked a little bit on the high notes. Leonardo DiCaprio was [in the audience] right in front of me, and he was not smiling.”
EJAE, vocalist, via The Times
She elaborated on the exact timing of the distraction, noting that just as she prepared to hit the signature line of the track, reality set in. That’s what put me off,
she explained. 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.
An Accidental Parallel to Rumi's Animated Struggles
While viewers and fans initially wondered if the live voice crack was an intentional creative choice, reality proved far more organic. In VICE — which premiered in 2025 and climbed to become the most-watched film in Netflix history — EJAE provides the singing voice for Rumi, a martial arts-trained demon hunter leading a secret double life. Eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed that EJAE’s accidental vocal slip mirrored a scene in the film where Rumi cracks on the exact same note in the exact same place.
Despite early rejection and an unexpected ascent to global fame, the singer clarified that the parallel was entirely unplanned. The mishap was ultimately embraced by her rapidly growing fan base, turning a moment of stage-fright anxiety into a charming piece of trivia for the animated feature's lore.
From Surprise Stardom to Grammy and Oscar Glory
The nervousness at the BAFTAs stands in stark contrast to the historic heights the track ultimately reached. Co-written by EJAE alongside Mark Sonnenblick, the track swept the 2026 awards circuit. Although the BAFTAs do not feature a category for original song, the anthem secured the Oscar for Best Original Song, making history as the first K-pop track to win both a Grammy and an Academy Award.
Reflecting on the whirlwind year, EJAE admitted that the massive cultural footprint of the project caught her entirely off guard. I know [this kind of success] happens, I just didn’t think it would happen to me,
she noted. In the past year I’ve lived five lives. It doesn’t stop. Who does this all in one year?
Starstruck Encounters With Music Royalty
DiCaprio was not the only iconic figure to leave an impression on the rising star during her awards-season run. At a post-ceremony celebration, EJAE experienced a surreal encounter with Jay-Z and Beyoncé.
I was at their afterparty and Jay-Z came up to me and said, ‘Hi, my name’s Shawn,’
she recalled. Meeting her ultimate musical idol made her beyond starstruck
when Beyoncé praised her vocal talent directly, telling her, You have an incredible voice.
When the singer asked if the pop icon was familiar with her work, Beyoncé casually replied that her girls regularly sang the hit track.
What Comes Next for the HUNTR/X Trio
With Netflix officially announcing a sequel just one month after the BAFTAs, the creative team and vocalists will soon return to the universe that launched them onto global red carpets. Alongside her collaborators Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, EJAE will have ample opportunity to add to her repertoire — and perhaps test her nerves against future unsmiling film stars in the audience.
