Watch Huntr/X Deliver K-Pop Drama, Sparkles, and Possibly Summon a Demon at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

If you thought the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade had peaked with its usual line-up of inflatable pop-culture blobs wobbling above New York City, think again. This year, viewers were treated to the holy trinity of Thanksgiving essentials: floats, confetti, and a fictional girl group performing a Grammy-nominated hit as if they absolutely did not just arise from a Netflix universe involving demon slaying.

Yes, Huntr/X-the girl group from KPop Demon Hunters-made their “real-world” debut with their hit song “Golden.” And in case the whole “fictional group performing IRL” thing wasn’t enough of a fever dream, the performance began immediately after the reveal of one of the parade’s newest balloons: Derpy Tiger, a character whose face looks like it was designed by someone who hadn’t slept since 2011.

EJAE, Lavender Hats, and a Healthy Dose of Confusion

The performance opened with EJAE, rocking an all-black ensemble accessorized with a fluffy lavender hat that said, “Yes, I fight demons, but I also brunch.” She strutted through the streets surrounded by dancers who were unquestionably paid by the bounce.
She then handed the musical baton to Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna, who continued the performance before all three united for a dramatic finale that ended in a confetti explosion so large it likely caused at least two tourists to believe they were being abducted by K-Pop angels.

Meanwhile, the crowd-more than 3.5 million spectators strong-roared with approval, partly because the performance was great, and partly because everyone desperately wanted to be seen cheering on something that might be Grammy-nominated.

Ken Jeong: Actor, Comedian, Unexpected Hype Man

At one point, cameras even caught Ken Jeong passionately singing along-because of course he did. If your film is called KPop Demon Hunters, and you don’t sing your fictional group’s hit song in public, are you even doing your job?
“Golden”: The Song That Did Everything Except Actually Summon a Demon

The tune itself is a phenomenon:

Four Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year
The first all-female K-pop group to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Probably the soundtrack of at least 10,000 TikTok challenges involving glitter, eyeliner, and questionable dance moves
Honestly, the only thing more impressive is that the song somehow didn’t summon an ancient spirit from the depths of Times Square.
Wait, the Movie Is the Streamer’s Biggest of All Time?

Yes, “KPop Demon Hunters” not only hit Netflix on June 20 but also grossed $24.6 million globally-and has become the platform’s top movie ever. Let that sink in. A movie about demon-fighting K-pop idols outperformed every tear-jerking Oscar contender your film-school friend forced you to watch. We live in an era of miracles.

The Supporting Cast of Parade Performers

Huntr/X wasn’t the only act gracing the 2.5-mile parade route, which stretched from West 77th Street down to Macy’s Herald Square. Others included:
Cynthia Erivo, who showed up vocally flawless as usual
Kool & the Gang, meaning at least one dad in the audience yelled “THAT’S REAL MUSIC!”
Lil Jon, presumably shouting “YEAH!” into the November wind
Taylor Momsen, who continues her annual mission to make Thanksgiving slightly more hardcore

In Conclusion: Yes, This Happened

Huntr/X’s performance was a bizarre, brilliant pop-cultural moment-one part marketing, one part spectacle, and one part multiverse confusion. But in the end, it did exactly what the Macy’s Parade is supposed to do: distract us from the cold with glitter, giant balloons, and the occasional demon-themed K-pop masterpiece.
Honestly, what more could you ask for on Thanksgiving?

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