Eric Nam and his magic ears got revenge on ultimate Traitor Rob Rausch in the best way he knew how — with music. The K-pop star and season four finalist of Peacock’s hit show The Traitors dropped his new song, “How the Fire Started,” on Tuesday (March 3), and for its Western-themed music video, the singer-actor did his own recruiting and gathered up his fellow betrayed players to take on Robby Bobby.
The visual begins with an introduction of Nam as Eric the Vengeful, “who arrives at Robby Bobby’s Ranch” and declares it “time to right some wrongs.”
“Oh you never gave a damn about me ’til I had something you needed,” the singer croons, referencing how the Love Island snake wrangler recruited the pop star into the turret to unknowingly carry out Rausch’s plan for a solo win. But as the tune goes on, Nam — though upset at the betrayal in the finale — admits he should’ve known better, singing, “Blow your smoke as I go up in flames/ Shame on me thinking that you would save me/ How can you turn and walk away/ From a fire you started?”
One by one in the video, several of those who the Alabama pretty boy betrayed during season four of the eight-time Primetime Emmy-winning show — Natalie Anderson, Ron Funches, Yam Yam Arocho and of course, Maura Higgins — appear, toiling for no pay on the ranch as Rob rides around (shirtless in his signature overalls and with his snake tattoos on full display, naturally) on a horse, as those he wronged gather to plot against him.
In true Western style, Eric and Rob have a face-off. After a battle, the singer is victorious, and the betrayed gang ties him up and splashes gasoline on him, cuts off the offending overalls and let their revenge literally burn as they walk away. But comedian Funches couldn’t let the bond he and Rob developed in the castle go up in flames, and runs back to save his pal and carrying him away from the fire.
“This song means so much to me and I hope you all love it,” Nam wrote on Instagram upon the song’s arrival at midnight Tuesday.
Rausch won season four of The Traitors in the finale that premiered Thursday, Feb. 26. At the Fire of Truth, the Love Island alum betrayed fellow Traitor Nam by voting with Higgins to banish him from the game. With just Rausch and Higgins (also a Love Island alum) left standing as the final two, the snake wrangler revealed to a shocked Faithful Maura that he had been a Traitor from Day 1 of the game, leaving him to take the $220,800 prize alone — though he did promise to buy his most loyal supporter a Birkin bag with his winnings.
Watch Nam’s hilarious video for “How the Fire Started” below:
