Intro for September 4, 2025

Dear Gossips, 

“Golden” from the Kpop Demon Hunters soundtrack is currently the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, the third time it’s topped the list. It is one of THREE songs in the top five, with “Your Idol” and “Soda Pop” occupying the 4th and 5th spots respectively and one of FOUR songs in the top ten, as “How It’s Done” is in the #9 position. 

“Golden” is also nominated for Song of the Summer at the MTV VMAs this coming weekend. And earlier this week, it was announced that Audrey Nuna, EJAE and Rei Ami aka HUNTR/X will be presenting at the show. Which is wonderful on so many levels. Obviously the movie and the music continue to make a cultural impact but also it’s great to see that the artists who sing the songs are also being included in this run of great press and publicity. This, presumably, will be the first of many HUNTR/X appearances as we get into the heart of award season. Because, of course, Kpop Demon Hunters is now an Oscar contender, at the very least in the Best Original Song category for “Golden” but also in the Best Animated Feature category. 

There is only one other animated film this year that can match the success of Kpop Demon Hunters: Ne Zha 2, the highest-grossing animated film of all time and the 5th highest-grossing movie ever after overtaking Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. It remains to be seen whether or not China will submit Ne Zha 2 for Oscar consideration, though, but if they do, we could be looking at two animated films telling East Asian stories in that category.

Back to Kpop Demon Hunters and its cultural influence, did you see Novak Djokovic’s post-match dance the other night? 

@espn

#NovakDjokovic dedicated his postmatch #KPop #DemonHunters dance to his daughter Tara ❤️ #usopen #tennis

♬ original sound - ESPN

He’s not my favourite player but this is my favourite thing that he’s ever done on court. 

Yours in gossip, 

Lainey 

PS. The Toronto International Film Festival kicks off today. Sarah and I are both covering the festival and we’re writing and posting between screenings and junkets and red carpets. So bear with us if we’re loopy for the next week. This is an intense schedule and we’ll be sharing our thoughts on the films and the parties and the stars here at LaineyGossip.com and also at our Substack, The Squawk!