Turkish media controversy over Croatian Eurovision entry

The Croatian musical group LELEK and their song Andromeda have faced criticism from Turkish media and social media users ahead of the Eurovision 2026 song contest. Although Turkey is not participating in the event, critics claim that the song contains indirect references to the Ottoman Empire and historical events in the Balkans. Objections center on lyrics that allegedly evoke themes of slavery, abduction of women, fear, submission, and betrayal. Furthermore, the group's stage appearance, specifically facial tattoos interpreted as historical self-marking to avoid forced conversion, has sparked additional debate. Turkish media outlets argue that the competition should remain free of political messages. While the group has not officially confirmed these interpretations, the controversy continues to grow. The group is scheduled to perform on stage in Vienna on May 12.