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Superstar Leonardo DiCaprio Made K-Pop Star Ejae Nervous at BAFTA Awards

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • K-Pop singer Ejae experienced significant nervousness while performing at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA).
  • The singer cited the presence of actor Leonardo DiCaprio in the front row as a major cause of her anxiety.
  • Ejae's performance in the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" has contributed to her growing global recognition.

K-Pop singer Ejae revealed that her performance at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) in February was a nerve-wracking experience, largely due to the unexpected presence of Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio in the audience. Ejae, known for her vocal contributions to the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," admitted that seeing DiCaprio just feet away caused her to make vocal errors.

BAFTA still haunts me. I made mistakes. My voice cracked a little on the high notes. Leonardo DiCaprio was in the audience right in front of me, and he wasn't smiling.

— EjaeDescribing her anxiety during her performance at the BAFTA awards.

"BAFTA still haunts me. I made mistakes. My voice cracked a little on the high notes. Leonardo DiCaprio was in the audience right in front of me, and he wasn't smiling," Ejae recounted in an interview with The Times. She explained that DiCaprio's proximity was a significant distraction, particularly during a challenging high-note section of the song "Born To Be."

That's what made me lose focus. He made me very nervous.

— EjaeExplaining the impact of Leonardo DiCaprio's presence on her performance.

Ejae acknowledged the inherent pressure of performing in front of a constellation of A-list celebrities, but stated that the direct eye contact with the Oscar-winning actor amplified her nervousness considerably. The film "KPop Demon Hunters" has achieved remarkable global success, becoming one of Netflix's most-watched original animated features and spawning a larger franchise.

It was already stressful enough to be in front of all these celebrities, and then I looked up and made direct eye contact with Leonardo DiCaprio? Come on.

— EjaeRecounting the heightened pressure of seeing DiCaprio during her BAFTA performance.

This success has led to the announcement of a sequel and a global concert tour, expanding the "KPop Demon Hunters" universe beyond its animated origins into a broader cultural phenomenon. Ejae expressed disbelief at the scale of the film's success, noting her own journey from obscurity to prominence. The franchise's reach will further extend with the upcoming official book, "The Art of KPop Demon Hunters," scheduled for release on September 8, 2026.

I was nobody and suddenly I became somebody.

— EjaeReflecting on her rise to fame following the success of 'KPop Demon Hunters'.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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