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Original poster

Petition to stop BBC broadcasting Eurovision song that glamorises sexual strangulation (before the watershed!)

110 replies

DreamyHedgehog · 23/04/2026 01:21

Someone has created a change.org petition calling on The BBC and The EBU to not broadcast “Choke Me”, a song competing at Eurovision this year which glamorises sexual strangulation - unless the lyrics are changed.

The song is due to be broadcast on May 14th shortly after 8pm on BBC One - before the watershed.

I’ve just signed, sharing here in case anyone else wants to sign and share too.

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-bbc-airing-eurovision-content-that-normalises-violence-against-women

These are the full lyrics to the song:

Phantom
You feel like a phantom
Why do you wanna tame me?
It's hard to breathe in
Do you feel me?
Do what I say
And don't you ever betray me
You are here to obey me
Are you not?
All I need is your love
I want it to choke me, choke me, choke me
Born for you to control
I want you to choke me
Ch-ch-ch-choke me
Ch-ch-ch-choke me
Love me, make my lungs explode like oh oh oh…
All I need is your love
I want it to choke me
Ch-ch-ch-choke me
Ch-ch-ch-choke me
Choke me
Choke me
Choke me
Save me
Inside I'm blazin'
I want you to call me, call me, call me
Call, my body is begging
Do what I say
And don't you ever betray me
You are here to obey me
Are you not?
All I need is your love
I want it to choke me, choke me, choke me
Born for you to control
I want you to choke me
Ch-ch-ch-choke me
Ch-ch-ch-choke me
Love me, make my lungs explode like oh oh oh…
All I need is your love
I want it to choke me
Ch-ch-ch-choke me
Ch-ch-ch-choke me
All I need is your love
I want it to choke me, choke me, choke me
Born for you to control
I want you to choke me
Ch-ch-ch-choke me
Ch-ch-ch-choke me
Love me, make my lungs explode like oh oh oh…
All I need iѕ your love
I wаnt it to choke me
Ch-ch-ch-choke me
Ch-ch-ch-choke me

Petition to stop BBC broadcasting Eurovision song that glamorises sexual strangulation (before the watershed!)
OP posts:
IwantToRetire · 23/04/2026 17:52

Slightly revising my comment. The BBC can ask the European Broadcasting Union to block the song.

They have in the past made complaints about song titles etc..

But yes, how did the EBU allow this song to be entered.

MissyB1 · 23/04/2026 17:43

How the heck was this song allowed to be entered? Surely the organisers should have refused to allow it? Eurovision has been going to shit for years, I won’t be watching it.

IwantToRetire · 23/04/2026 17:37

There was an early thread about this where it was pointed out that much as we all love to blame the BBC, they just take what the organisers feed to them.

If you want to stop this song you need to lobby the organising group.

If any has the time to find the earlier thread I think the details of who to do that is on there.

Waheymum · 23/04/2026 16:43

It's a shame it's such a catchy song! I'm not sure that, in the age of the internet, only having it on TV after the watershed will make much (if any) difference.

Olderbadger1 · 23/04/2026 16:12

FFS - it's never-bloody-ending isn't it. Have signed but I'm appalled that it got this far. Thanks for the alert OP.

Original poster
DreamyHedgehog · 23/04/2026 15:51

inkognitha · 23/04/2026 13:31

Signed, thx for creating the petition

It was someone else. I wasn’t brave enough to do it because you have to register on change.org with a legal name or entity and I was too afraid - because the fans of the song are truly scary.

They attacked the first prominent female YouTuber who spoke up about it relentlessly and have done the same to everyone else who has expressed unease. The person who put it up appears to have an organisation behind them so they don’t have to use their name.

Its so sad that we live in a world where even calling a spade a spade online as a woman, especially if that spade is violence against women, is so dangerous.

OP posts:
inkognitha · 23/04/2026 13:31

Signed, thx for creating the petition

ArabellaScott · 23/04/2026 13:21

'Research last year showed more than half of people under the age of 35 had experienced strangulation, with nearly a third wrongly believing there were safe ways to strangle someone.
Numerous studies have shown brain changes in women who have been repeatedly “choked” during sex, including markers for brain damage and disruptions in brain hemispheres linked to depression and anxiety.
Nearly half said they had experienced anxiety during or after being strangled, with even a fleeting moment of strangulation potentially leading to lifelong health problems.
McGlynn added: “What this shows is the desperate need for better education and awareness-raising as to the harms of women.
“But what also bothers me so much is that many young women do not want to engage in strangulation/choking, but its normalisation makes them feel like they have to despite their own inner sense that it’s not right and, for some, their knowledge of the harms. But it’s promotion in this way makes it just harder for young women to resist. And not resisting is putting their own health and lives at risk.
“Why do we seem to care so little about the health and wellbeing of young women?” she added.'

AlexaStopAlexaNo · 23/04/2026 13:17

Erin1975 · 23/04/2026 09:02

History tells us that the one thing certain to make a song more popular is for it to be banned or censored.

Edited

Which is probably why Israel may well win 🙄

ArabellaScott · 23/04/2026 13:15

DreamyHedgehog · 23/04/2026 10:20

You’re sadly correct. The song is high in the odds to win right now and has militant defenders who attack anyone that suggests it’s inappropriate online.

Quite sure the strategy behind the lyrics was to make sure that happened. The controversy is on purpose.

It’s a damned if you speak up damned if you don’t situation for people who understand how offensive and reckless the lyrics are.

However, responding to it does also allow the message that strangling someone is never safe to get through to more people too. Which is important, especially as Eurovision is increasingly popular with Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

So even if the BBC and EBU continue to pass the buck and just deny there is an issue, that’s something good that came out of it at least.

Edited
Show quote history

Yes. It's inevitable that this will bring more attention to the song. That's okay, so long as it also sheds light on the problems with strangulation, which tbh need to be talked about.

Abitofalark · 23/04/2026 12:27

A description of the content or a short indicative sample would be enough.

Thelnebriati · 23/04/2026 12:25

I'll sign that, I cant see how its legal to air it as the act is illegal in the UK. Would it be legal to sing a song in favour of bestiality, or paedophilia?

lornad00m · 23/04/2026 12:02

Signed.

CornishDaughteroftheDawn · 23/04/2026 11:50

Non fatal strangulation is a criminal offence in this country and several European countries.

We should be putting pressure on the Eurovision organisers to have this entry removed.

There should be no question over it being shown either before or after the watershed - we shouldn’t air a song glorifying murder, this is also not on.

Apacketofbiscuitsaday · 23/04/2026 11:37

Horrible

Veilsofmorning · 23/04/2026 11:33

Signed and shared - and small amount of gardening

ProfessorBinturong · 23/04/2026 11:26

Vile. Signed and shared.

Beowulfa · 23/04/2026 10:39

Erin1975 · 23/04/2026 09:02

History tells us that the one thing certain to make a song more popular is for it to be banned or censored.

Edited

I still snigger childishly to myself when playing Ebeneezer Goode.

The Will Ferrell film Eurovision has some very funny parodies of the modern acts; backing singers gyrating earnestly in bondage rags, portentous solos, ludicrous overblown setpieces etc.

Grabbing attention by dressing sexy, singing about sex, practically having sex on stage; this is what Madonna was doing 30 years ago. It's boring now.

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 23/04/2026 10:24

That's gross. Signed.

Original poster
DreamyHedgehog · 23/04/2026 10:20

Erin1975 · 23/04/2026 09:02

History tells us that the one thing certain to make a song more popular is for it to be banned or censored.

Edited

You’re sadly correct. The song is high in the odds to win right now and has militant defenders who attack anyone that suggests it’s inappropriate online.

Quite sure the strategy behind the lyrics was to make sure that happened. The controversy is on purpose.

It’s a damned if you speak up damned if you don’t situation for people who understand how offensive and reckless the lyrics are.

However, responding to it does also allow the message that strangling someone is never safe to get through to more people too. Which is important, especially as Eurovision is increasingly popular with Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

So even if the BBC and EBU continue to pass the buck and just deny there is an issue, that’s something good that came out of it at least.

OP posts:
Mischance · 23/04/2026 09:34

All the above explain why I never watch this utterly dreadful programme.

CheddarCheeseAndCrispSandwich · 23/04/2026 09:30

Jesus! How was this ever considered a song worthy of being written…never mind being performed! Disgusting content…😖

Erin1975 · 23/04/2026 09:27

L0V315 · 23/04/2026 09:15

Wtf! 😡

Promoting sexual abuse that can lead to death/murder, how is that 'song' even chosen?

I feel like I have walked into some sick parallel universe.

Signed and shared

I was going to blame the people of Romania but there was no public vote. It was chosen by a jury of 7 Romanian judges apparently.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2026#Final

Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2026#Final

Frodocheerio · 23/04/2026 09:26

I love Eurovision but think this is appalling and hope they reconsider. They made Israel change their lyrics at the last minute a few years ago as it was deemed too political so it’s not too late.

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