Romania’s Eurovision song criticised for ‘glamorising sexual strangulation’

[IwantToRetire]

Calls for Alexandra Căpitănescu’s Choke Me to be banned as campaigners say lyrics are ‘dangerous’ and ‘reckless’

Campaigners against sexual violence said the entry, in which the words “choke me” are repeated 30 times during the three-minute song, was “playing fast and loose with young women’s lives”.

The song, by a former winner of the Romanian version of The Voice, Alexandra Căpitănescu, also contains the lyrics “It’s hard to breathe in”, “I want you to choke me” and “make my lungs explode”.

Full article https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/mar/13/romania-eurovision-song-choke-me-criticised-glamorising-sexual-strangulation

Vile- why why why ?? Isn't there enough VAWG without promoting it?
Why would you want your lungs to explode? Pretty terminal I'd say
I hope it is banned but I guess it won't be

Sadly, a lot of women are quite happy to make money or a career out of pandering to men's sexual desires no matter how damaging to other women.

Pathetic people.

And also, which is really sad, accepting that what men think is cutting edge, radical, progressive, is that. And rather than thinking is this what is cutting edge etc., for women assume that for women to be seen as radical is too adopt and promote what is little more than men feeling entitled to inforce their fetishes on everyone else.

It’s all edgy for women to sing about being hurt by men. I hate it. I hated that song with Eminem and Rihanna where she sings "…because I like the way it hurts" and implies they’re both to blame for the violence. I know it was meant to be some sort of anti dv song but that is not the way it comes across to just listening to it. I hated the DC listening to it.

Unfortunately, this does not surprise me. Andrew Tate once remarked that he would live in Romania, because it was the only place he could legally rape a woman.

https://thelead.uk/why-did-andrew-tate-choose-romania

https://theloop.ecpr.eu/romanias-systemic-misogynist-apparatus/

What annoys me most is this is going out before the watershed. Her semi final begins May 14th at 8pm on BBC 1. She’s in the first half so it’s going to be broadcast around 8:40pm at the latest.

It’s sad the BBC thinks this is acceptable pre-watershed nowadays.

I dont have the details to hand, but I heard about this via a post by Gail Dines on her facebook page.

And someone commented with all the details of how to complain to Eurovision, and to which ever channel (for the UK the BBC) for the region you live in.

Will try and find it tomorrow, but if anyone knows in the meantime please post.

Choking is not a lawful act in the UK so I don't see how it can be legally aired in the UK?

This is horrible. Strangulation is bringing normalised everywhere.
Gail Dines runs Culture Reframed and this episode is about choking and strangulation. I've not watched this one but have watched lots of others from them. They are good to share with others.

Complaints regarding the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) can be directed to the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), or via your local participating broadcaster.

1. Contact the EBU Directly

The EBU oversees the competition and is responsible for its organization and rules.

• Email: Use the general EBU contact options or send queries to [email protected] (often used for data-related concerns or official submissions).
• Mail: L'Ancienne-Route 17A, 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland.
• Contact Forms: Check the EBU site for updated "Contact us" forms.

(This is from AI. Nothing on Eurovision web site https://www.eurovision.com/ )

BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints/make-a-complaint/#/Complaint%20Summary

I wonder if it is worth contacting Women's Aid and Rape Crisis and ask if they are going to make a complaint or at least make a statement.

I'm with the campaign - the song and the video are both vile.

Appalling.

For the BBC you can follow the instructions here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints

Technically it’s a regulatory complaint, so it’s best to call them and they’ll explain how to do that. The number is 03700 100 222.

But you can also just use the webform to send a complaint online.

You can also try calling OFCOM directly https://www.ofcom.org.uk/make-a-complaint the number for OFCOM is 0300 123 3333.

Section 2.4 of OFCOM rules specifically say they should not show content that glamorises violent or dangerous acts.

I think the BBC are scared to complain because they are worried it will harm the UK entry this year and they want televotes.