Rapper DaBaby released a music video for new song “Save Me” in which he recreates the Charlotte light rail stabbing in a jarring tribute to slain Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska — but with an alternate ending.
The controversial Cleveland-born rapper directed the video in which he sits on a Charlotte train in a black hoodie next to an actor portraying accused knifeman Decarlos Brown, who allegedly slaughtered the unsuspecting 23-year-old pizza parlor worker on Aug 22.
Opening with a playback of a news package — which includes the shocking original security footage of the stabbing — a chorus of “Do you think you can save me?” begins as DaBaby and two actors proceed to recreate the ghastly murder.
“Think you could save me like your God or something,” the 33-year-old rapper opens while sitting on the seat adjacent to Brown’s character.
The first verse is marked by lines “When I stay silent on my morals, yea it cost me plenty” and “Better stay out my face cause I’m a man and I will bleed you down” and “No 9-to-5 you rather post up at the store or something — so we can’t save you.”
The verse ends with the actor portraying Zarutska — clad in a “Jupiter’s Pizzeria” shirt and hat — sitting in front of the portrayed Brown who rubs his head and face, similar to the real security footage, while apparently contemplating stabbing the innocent woman.
“You know there’s just some people man, unfortunately, we can’t save ‘em, you know what I’m saying. I might be one of them,” DaBaby said in a spoken word portion of the song, adding, “I might be one of them n—s you know, that you can’t save.”
The video then includes the actor portraying Brown pulling out a knife that appeared shockingly similar to the one used to kill Zarutska, as shown by security footage of the attack.
As the actor lifts the knife in exactly the same manner as Brown, DaBaby holds back his hand, saving the fictional Zarustka’s life.
“I’m gonna put my faith in God,” he rhymes just before jumping to action.
The video pauses for added emphasis on the rapper’s tattooed hand holding back the knife.
Zarutska’s character is then shown walking home safely, rubbing her neck, as DaBaby and the portrayed Brown exit the light rail, passing by safety officers in yellow vests without incident.
The video ends with a screenshot of a GoFundMe page, which is also linked in the YouTube video, benefitting Zarutska’s loved ones.
That GoFundMe titled “In loving memory of Iryna” was established by her family and has raised over $434,500 dollars.
DaBaby came under fire for a homophobic rant in 2021 at the Rolling Loud music festival during which he made insensitive comments about people suffering from HIV/AIDS.
The release comes just days after video of Zarutska in happier times — drinking a beer while swimming, playing cards, and spending time with her boyfriend — tugged at the heartstrings of internet users.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
