Aleksandra Kepitenesku, the winner of the Romanian national selection round, may be deprived of the right to represent her country in the prestigious song contest.
Medianews.az Reports citing Publika.az say that the reason is the accusations by human rights defenders and experts that the composition "Choke Me" romanticizes dangerous sexual experiences.
Previously a winner of the "The Voice Romania" show, Kepitenesku won the ticket to Eurovision on March 8. Her nu-metal styled number has provocative lyrics: during the three-minute performance, the phrase "choke me" is repeated 30 times, and there are lines about the desire to "burst lungs" and the difficulty of "breathing".
A group of international activists and experts appealed to the European Broadcasting Union demanding either the annulment of the national selection results or forcing the singer to change the lyrics. Claire Magglin, a law professor at Durham University, called the song an "irresponsible normalization of dangerous experience" that plays with young women’s lives and raises concerns about their health.
Research conducted last year by the Institute for the Prevention of Strangulation showed that more than half of people under 35 have experienced strangulation in consensual intimate relations, and about one-third mistakenly believed there are safe ways to do this. Medical data confirms that such experiences can lead to long-term health problems, including brain injuries and psychological disorders.
The artist herself insists that her song is not a call for violence but a metaphor for the emotional struggle of a young creator suffocating from doubt and internal pressure. However, critics, including a famous Norwegian psychologist and the blogger of "ESC Norway," believe that the authors consciously use the "hype" subject knowing what kind of resonance it would provoke.