Dababy Releases Music Video “Save Me” Paying Tribute to Iryna Zarutska
Rapper Dababy has unveiled a music video for his latest track, “Save Me.” The video resumes at the Charlotte Light Rail, presenting a rather unsettling tribute to the late Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, though it offers an alternative take on the story.
Directed by Dababy himself, who hails from Cleveland, the video features him seated on the train alongside an actor playing DeCarlos Brown, the man accused of fatally attacking a 23-year-old pizza shop worker on August 22.
It opens with a chilling news segment, complete with original security footage showing the stabbing incident. The haunting chorus, “Do you think you can save me?” plays as Dababy and the actors depict the grim scene.
Dababy begins, “I think you can save me like your god or something,” as he sits next to the character representing Brown.
The first stanza captures powerful lines: “When you keep silence in morality, it costs me a lot,” and “We can’t save you because you’re rather 9 to 5 in the store or something.” It culminates with the actor playing Zaltoska in a Pizzeria of Jupiter shirt and hat.
“Unfortunately, we can’t save them. I know what I’m saying. I might be one of them,” he reflects in a spoken part of the song.
As the portrayal of Brown brandishes a knife resembling the one used in Zaltoska’s murder, the mood is tense. In a pivotal moment, Dababy intervenes, preventing the fictional character’s demise.
As the video progresses, the Zaltoska character is shown safely returning home, tenderly rubbing her neck, which emphasizes her survival.
Just before this moment, Dababy voices, “I’m going to put my faith in God,” blending hope with urgency.
The video freezes on a shot of his tattooed hand keeping the blade at bay, underlining the struggle between fate and intervention.
The final scene confirms Zaltoska’s safe return, with her and Dababy exiting the train, showcasing a reassuring moment as they pass a safety officer wearing a yellow vest.
The video concludes with a screenshot of a GoFundMe page created for Zarutska’s family, linking viewers to additional content that supports her loved ones.
Titled “In Loving Memory of Iryna,” the GoFundMe has raised over $434,500 for her family.
It’s noteworthy that this video comes shortly after Zarutska’s own video appeared online, capturing joyful moments of her swimming, playing cards, and enjoying time with her boyfriend, which resonated deeply with netizens.
