Romania's entry for Eurovision 2026, 'Choke Me' by Alexandra Căpitănescu, has drawn criticism from anti-sexual violence campaigners for appearing to glamorise sexual strangulation. The song repeats the phrase 'choke me' 30 times and has prompted online calls for its disqualification or modification. While some view the lyrics as metaphorical, experts highlight health risks associated with the practice.
Alexandra Căpitănescu, a former winner of the Romanian version of The Voice, performs the nu metal-inspired track 'Choke Me', selected as Romania's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The song's chorus includes lines such as: “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.”
Clare McGlynn, a professor of law at Durham University and author of Exposed: The Rise of Extreme Porn and How We Fight Back, described the lyrics as showing “an alarming disregard for young women’s health and wellbeing.” She added: “The song – and its choice by Romania/Eurovision, and promotion by those organisations – represents a reckless normalisation of a dangerous practice. It’s playing fast and loose with young women’s lives. The emerging medical evidence is that frequent sexual strangulation is giving young women brain damage.”
Research commissioned last year by the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IfAS) indicates that over a third of people aged 18-34 have experienced choking or strangling at least once during consensual sex, with just over a quarter reporting it without consent. The practice carries risks of brain damage or death. McGlynn noted: “What this shows is the desperate need for better education and awareness-raising as to the harms of women,” and expressed concern that normalisation pressures young women into participating despite potential dangers.
In contrast, the YouTube description of 'Choke Me' explains the references as a metaphor “captures the emotional pressure, doubts and inner struggles many young artists face while trying to find their voice and place in the world.” Online discussions have called for the song's disqualification or lyric changes, though the BBC has not lodged a complaint, according to reports.
This follows last year's incident where Malta altered its entry title from 'Kant' to 'Serving' after a BBC objection over similarity to a swear word. The UK announced its 2026 entry last week: 'Eins Zwei Drei' by YouTuber and electronic musician Look Mum No Computer.
Meanwhile, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Iceland have withdrawn from Eurovision 2026 in protest of Israel's participation. Eurovision director Martin Green stated: “the Eurovision Song Contest continues to be a place where friendships are forged, languages are learned and new genres and artists are discovered. In a challenging world we can indeed be United by Music.”
