Main points
- The song Choke Me by Alexandra Căpitănescu, who will represent Romania at Eurovision 2026, has been criticized for romanticizing the dangerous act of sexual asphyxiation.
- Advocates for the rights of victims of sexual violence and Eurovision fans are calling for the song to be disqualified or its lyrics to be changed due to its dangerous content.
Romania's Eurovision 2026 entry criticized / Channel 24 Collage
Alexandra Căpitănescu's song Choke Me, which will represent Romania at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, has been called “dangerous” and “reckless.” It allegedly romanticizes sexual asphyxiation, a dangerous practice that can lead to brain trauma and even death.
This is reported by The Guardian. Advocates for victims of sexual assault said that the track “plays with the lives of young women” because it repeats the words choke me 30 times.
Alexandra Căpitănescu's song also includes the lyrics “hard to breathe,” “I want you to choke me,” and “make my lungs explode.” Durham University law professor Claire McGlynn said the repeated sexual message of “choke me” “demonstrates a disturbing disregard for the health and well-being of young women.”
This song – and its selection by Romania and Eurovision, and its promotion by these organizations – represents a reckless normalization of a dangerous practice. It is a quick and careless game with the lives of young women. New medical evidence suggests that frequent sexual asphyxiation causes brain damage in young women,
– she said.
The online community has reacted negatively to the song Choke Me. Many Eurovision fans are calling for the song to be disqualified or the lyrics to be changed.
Alexandra Căpitănescu – Choke Me: watch the video online
Recall that last year the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) banned the use of the Maltese word “kant” in the song with which Miriana Conte represented Malta in the song contest, because it sounded like an English swear word. In previous years, contestants were ordered to remove the words “shit” and “pussy” from their tracks.
The main thing about Eurovision 2026
-
Eurovision 2026 will be held in Austria. Vienna will host the 70th song contest.
-
The first and second semi-finals will take place on May 12 and 14, respectively, and the grand final is scheduled for May 16.
-
The show will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle arena.
-
This year, 35 countries are participating in the contest. Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Iceland boycotted Eurovision 2026 because the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) allowed Israel to participate.