Do not play with Ella Mai, because she just might burn your house down. While it sounds like a page out of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes’ playbook, her latest music video “Might Just” actually takes inspiration from Waiting to Exhale. In the cinematic new visuals, the R&B singer acts out the story of a girlfriend calmly unraveling into a rage, ultimately torching the home she shares with her boyfriend.
Joined by cameos from Taylor Rooks, Ryan Destiny, and Coco Jones, the video opens with Ella making a bed. In the background, her boyfriend and another woman are making out. As the betrayal unfolds, Ella serenades the viewer with the chilling line, “I might just burn this whole thing down.”
Soon after, she drenches the cheating couple in gasoline—all while singing with a gorgeous voice. Her vocals are lovely enough to make a man forget she is singing about arson, rather than just talking things out and leaving like a normal person. But instead of walking away from a cheater, Ella chooses to burn it all to the ground.
A History of Heartbreak Arson
This dramatic plot is a staple in both pop culture and real life. Think back to Waiting to Exhale, when Angela Bassett famously burned her cheating husband’s car and clothes. Similarly, Left Eye of TLC famously set fire to a home during her tumultuous relationship with Andre “Bad Moon” Rison.
Directed by Alfred Marroquin, the video masterfully showcases what it looks like when a woman unravels from heartbreak. The visuals serve as a direct tribute to 1995’s Waiting to Exhale, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year.
Fortunately, the fiery drama is strictly for artistic license. Next month, Ella’s Do You Still Love Me? Tour will officially kick off on July 2 at Milwaukee Summerfest. The 28-date tour will hit major cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, before concluding with her long-awaited debut at New York City’s iconic Radio City Music Hall on August 28.
