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Romania's Eurovision entry criticised for allegedly "glamorising sexual strangulation"
Calls for disqualification arise as the song repeats "choke me" 30 times, with research showing over one-third of young adults have experienced sexual strangulation, risking brain damage.
- Romania will send Alexandra Cîmpătinescu to Eurovision 2026, with the song 'Choke Me', in the 70th contest featuring 35 countries.
- The song 'Choke Me' repeats 'choke me' 30 times in its three-minute runtime, with lines like 'It's hard to breathe in' and 'make my lungs explode', drawing criticism.
- Anti-Sexual-Violence campaigners described the song as 'dangerous' and 'reckless', while IfAS research found over a third of people aged 18-34 experienced choking, warning of brain damage risks.
- Fans have called for disqualification or lyric changes, and the EBU previously required Malta's 'Kant' to be altered, while the BBC has not lodged a complaint and NME has contacted the EBU.
- Alexandra Cîmpătinescu defended the lyrics as metaphorical, saying 'choke me' reflects emotional overwhelm, while five countries boycott this year's contest amid wider tensions.
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17 Articles
17 Articles
Berliner Morgenpost+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
At the ESC, Romania's contribution "Choke Me" provides some debate: it deals with a slippery issue, which some consider inappropriate.
·Berlin, Germany
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The Romanian anthem is performed by a female singer, but that hasn't stopped the British media from condemning the song as misogynistic and irresponsible.
·Finland
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Organizations and activists claim that the song Choke Me "plays dangerously with the lives of young women"
Calls for Alexandra Kapitanescu's song "Choke Me" to be banned, while activists say the lyrics are "dangerous" and "reckless".
·Belgrade, Serbia
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Activists demand a ban on Alexandra Căpitănescu's song »Choke Me«: The lyrics are »dangerous« and »malignant«. The protest is also growing in the net.
·Germany
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Total News Sources17
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 38%
C 50%
12%
Factuality
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