Overview
- Romania’s public broadcaster TVR rejected claims that Alexandra Căpitănescu’s song endorses violence, calling its message metaphorical and aligned with ESC values.
- TVR said the live performance concept is designed to make the intended meaning explicit and to preclude a literal interpretation of the lyrics.
- Căpitănescu previously stated the refrain expresses being overwhelmed by love, not a call for harmful behavior or censorship of art.
- Critics, including legal scholar Clare McGlynn, pointed to lines such as “I want you to choke me” and “Make my lungs explode” as normalizing a dangerous practice.
- The EBU has not taken public action and referred inquiries to TVR, with no confirmed formal complaints from other delegations as the 16 May Vienna final approaches; last year’s contest saw a BBC complaint over Malta’s entry, and UK lawmakers are pursuing a ban on pornographic depictions of strangulation.