Controversial rapper DaBaby has caused a stir with his new music video dedicated to slain Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska.
The 33-year-old musician, whose real name is Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, released his new song, Save Me, on Tuesday.
His captivating music video reenacts Zarutska’s tragic journey on the light rail in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was tragically stabbed by a stranger while heading home.
In DaBaby’s version, he depicted the harrowing event with a different, happier ending.
In the nearly four-minute video, DaBaby, wearing a black hoodie, acted as a passenger who sat next to the man acting as stabbing suspect Decarlos Brown.
The video began with a real-life news segment reporting on the 23-year-old refugee’s death. It includes security footage from her August 22 murder.
Then the song’s chorus – ‘Do you think you can save me?’ – begins as the video transitions into the divisive reenactment.
DaBaby, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but moved to Charlotte when he was six, sits next to Brown’s character as he starts rapping: ‘Think you could save me like your God or something?’
The camera cuts to the hooded suspect’s face before showing Zarutska’s actress, donning a pizzeria uniform similar to the real victim’s, about to board the bus.
The man acting as Brown is seen again, seemingly distressed as he leans on the window and rubs his head.
The 33-year-old musician, whose real name is Jonathan Lyndale Kirk (pictured), released his new song, Save Me, on Tuesday
A young, blonde woman (left) depicted Iryna Zarutska (right) in DaBaby’s divisive Save Me video
Zarutska (pictured) fled Ukraine in 2022 and was on her way home from working at a pizzeria was she was killed
The young, blonde woman then enters the train and sits in front of Brown’s character before going on her phone, resembling the moments leading up to Zarutska’s death.
‘When I stay silent on my morals, yeah it cost me plenty,’ DaBaby raps. ‘Better stay out my face cause I’m a man and I will bleed you down.
‘No nine-to-five, you rather post up at the store or something – so we can’t save you.’
Brown’s actor is once again seen flustered as he shifts uncomfortably in his seat. He soon grabs a knife from his pocket, stands and tries to stab the unsuspecting passenger in front of him.
But unlike what truly happened, DaBaby intervenes and grabs the assailant’s knife-wielding hand.
Zarutska, who had fled from war-torn Ukraine in 2022, was not saved when she was allegedly stabbed to death by career criminal Brown, surrounded by bystanders.
‘A dedication to Iryna Zarutska,’ the official YouTube video’s caption reads. The rapper also linked to a GoFundMe for the young victim’s family.
Many expressed shock, confusion and outrage upon viewing what was meant to be a tribute video.
In the nearly four-minute video, DaBaby, wearing a black hoodie (pictured), acted as a passenger who sat next to the man representing stabbing suspect Decarlos Brown
The video began with a real-life news segment reporting on the 23-year-old refugee’s death. It includes security footage from the August 22 murder (pictured)
The man acting as Brown (right) mimicked the real-life career criminal’s mannerisms as he sat next to DaBaby (left)
‘This is straight garbage. You make a rap talking about not saving someone about an innocent girl who was viciously stabbed by a repeat offender,’ one outraged viewer reacted on X under a post DaBaby made with a clip of the video.
‘A rap? You think people wanna listen to a rap about this murder? Real dumb.’
‘Too soon gang,’ another chimed in, with someone else asking DaBaby, ‘Bro what the f**k are you doing?’
‘Is DaBaby bout to get DaCancelled??’ one stunned woman asked. Another accused the rapper of ‘attempting to gain streams by exploiting someone’s tragedy.’
One user wrote: ‘Using the murder of an innocent woman to revive your career is one HELL of a choice….’
‘So I normally try to send out love into the world. I wanna try something new here and send out hate,’ another added.
‘You are disgusting for using someone’s death for likes and clicks you’re a horrible terrible human being,’ one woman asserted.
While the comment section was filled with thousands of baffled and infuriated viewers, some people swooped in to defend the intended message.
But unlike what truly happened, DaBaby intervenes and grabs the assailant’s knife-wielding hand (pictured)
Brown (pictured) allegedly stabbed the hard-working refugee to death on August 22
One man said that ‘for those who understand this is a great message.’
‘The message of the full video is to not be a bystander in the face of violence…no one attempted to help that girl on the train on that tragic day & he wants ppl to be more proactive,’ another explained.
‘I think he’s speaking on the consequences of impulsivity in regards to certain severe mental illnesses,’ one woman speculated.
‘He doesn’t want to make horrible split second decisions, but he does & it comes with lifelong consequences not only for himself but for those around him.’
DaBaby is no stranger to backlash, as he first came under fire in 2021, when he went on a homophobic rant at the Rolling Loud music festival, in which he made hurtful comments about people suffering from HIV/AIDS.
