The singers behind the animated hit film “K-Pop Demon Hunters” made their debut television appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where they performed their chart-topping song “Golden” live for the first time. During the interview, host Jimmy Fallon surprised the trio with a platinum record for the movie’s soundtrack.
Key Takeaways
- Singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami appeared on "The Tonight Show" on October 7, 2025.
- They performed the film's hit song "Golden" live for the first time as a group.
- Jimmy Fallon surprised the artists by presenting them with a platinum record for the soundtrack, signifying 1 million units sold.
- The film "K-Pop Demon Hunters" is Netflix's most-watched movie, with over 362 million streams.
- The song "Golden" has held the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight straight weeks.
A Surprise Announcement on National Television
The musical guests on the October 7, 2025, episode of “The Tonight Show” were EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami. They are the singing voices for the main characters in the Netflix animated feature “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” Host Jimmy Fallon welcomed the trio, calling the film's success “a phenomenon.”
During their interview, Fallon highlighted the movie's impressive achievements. He noted that it had been streamed more than 362 million times globally since its release in late June, making it the most-watched film in Netflix's history. The singers appeared genuinely surprised by the scale of their success.
The interview concluded with a major surprise. Fallon revealed he had a special presentation for his guests.
“I’m honored to be the first person — this is real — to tell you that ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters,’ you’ve gone platinum, guys," Fallon announced, holding up a framed record. “You have a platinum record!”
The singers became emotional upon hearing the news. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a platinum certification is awarded for selling at least one million units of an album or single.
Chart-Topping Success of the Soundtrack
The platinum status of the “K-Pop Demon Hunters” soundtrack is the latest in a series of major musical milestones for the film. The lead single, “Golden,” has dominated music charts for months.
Record-Breaking Performance
The song "Golden" has remained at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight consecutive weeks. It recently surpassed the record set by "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Disney's "Encanto" to become the longest-leading movie soundtrack song of the decade.
The soundtrack's popularity extends beyond its lead single. In a rare achievement, four different songs from the movie simultaneously appeared in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 in late August. According to Variety, this was the first time a film soundtrack had accomplished such a feat.
Singer EJAE shared an anecdote about the creation of the hit song, revealing she co-wrote “Golden” while on her way to a dentist appointment, highlighting the spontaneous nature of its origin.
The Emotional Impact of Cultural Representation
The singers also discussed the personal significance of the film's success. They shared stories about how seeing their culture represented on a global scale has affected them and their fans.
Audrey Nuna told Fallon that she was deeply moved by the film's portrayal of Korean culture. “This movie has affected us all so much on an emotional level,” she said, explaining that she began crying just five minutes into the premiere because she never imagined seeing such strong representation as a child.
Rei Ami shared a similar experience, recalling a moment while shopping at an H Mart in Los Angeles. She overheard a five-year-old boy singing “Golden” at the top of his lungs.
“I think it’s one thing to hear our song on the radio, but to hear it come out of a child, live ... in H Mart?!” she said. “I just cried at H Mart.”
These moments illustrate the deep connection the film has made with audiences, particularly within the Korean-American community.
Fan Reception and Broader Impact
The television appearance follows other recent public events where the film's cast has witnessed its popularity firsthand. A few weeks prior, May Hong, who voices the character Mira, attended Salt Lake City’s FanX convention.
Connecting with the Fanbase
During her panel at FanX, May Hong spoke to a crowd of approximately 5,000 people. She expressed shock at the enthusiastic reception, stating, “There’s no way I could have possibly imagined that it would be like this.”
Hong emphasized that face-to-face interactions with fans have been particularly meaningful. Hearing personal stories has provided a different perspective on the film's success beyond streaming numbers and chart positions.
“Getting to hear their story and that it’s a comfort movie for them, I just feel so humbled and privileged that I get to be a small part of something that makes people happy,” Hong said. Following the interview with Jimmy Fallon, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami took the stage to perform “Golden,” marking their first full-length live performance of the song as a group.
