DaBaby’s latest release feels less like a tribute and more like a calculated publicity stunt.
The North Carolina rapper has once again ignited controversy—with a music video reenacting the final, tragic moments of a Ukrainian refugee stabbed to death on a Charlotte train. While some hail it as a bold artistic statement, others condemn it as a disturbing attempt to exploit tragedy for attention. The question remains: is DaBaby honoring the victim, or capitalizing on her death for clout?
Jonathan Kirk, better known as DaBaby, dropped his new single Save Me on September 16, accompanied by a music video that has already amassed over 317,000 views on YouTube. The song is dedicated to Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee brutally stabbed multiple times in the neck on a Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) train last month.
The harrowing incident, captured on surveillance footage, showed the attacker, Decarlos Brown Jr., waiting for Zarutska to board before launching the unprovoked knife assault. Brown is now facing murder charges, and the attack shook the local community and beyond.
DaBaby’s video, however, takes a dramatic turn. Instead of portraying Zarutska’s fatal attack as it happened, he reimagines the moment with himself stepping in as the hero—confronting the assailant, removing him from the train, and handing him off to authorities.
This portrayal has deeply divided audiences. Supporters applaud DaBaby for spotlighting Zarutska’s story, arguing that his platform brings much-needed awareness to senseless violence. One fan commented, “Finally, someone is telling her story.”
But detractors have been vocal and unyielding, labeling the video “tone-deaf” and “exploitative.” Critics accuse DaBaby of transforming a real-life tragedy into a self-serving fantasy, with one comment reading, “This isn’t honoring her—it’s making a spectacle of her death.” Others suggest that financial support to Zarutska’s family would have been a more meaningful tribute than a dramatized reenactment.
Despite the backlash, some viewers find the song “powerful” and “beautiful,” highlighting the complicated nature of art inspired by tragedy.
🔹 Conclusion
Save Me has sparked a fierce debate, blurring the line between respectful homage and insensitivity. While DaBaby’s intention to shine a light on a horrific act is clear to some, others see his approach as opportunistic storytelling at the expense of a victim’s memory. Whether a tribute or exploitation, DaBaby once again dominates the conversation—raising difficult questions about the role of art, responsibility, and respect in the wake of real-life suffering.