Kesha has finally released the music video for “Backstabber,” a beloved deep cut from her 2010 second studio album, Animal. In the long-awaited clip, the singer reclaims her gold Trans Am from an unfaithful friend who stole it years ago, revving up for a dramatic, nostalgic night out.
Directed by Syndrome, the video has been in limbo for nearly two decades, with fans only having access to an unfinished, leaked cut online. Kesha took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her excitement about the official release, explaining that she has been trying to get it out “this whole time,” joking that the delay was due to a “longggg storyyyyyyy.”
Originally surfacing on MySpace around 2008—predating even her massive 2009 debut hit “Tik Tok”—“Backstabber” became a cult favorite among early fans. The track resonated deeply because, as Kesha once explained to Billboard, almost everyone has experienced a betrayal by a close friend. The singer famously drew inspiration from a real-life incident where a close friend stole her car and spoke poorly behind her back, prompting her to write the song as a form of musical revenge.
In the newly released video, Kesha takes full revenge. After successfully reclaiming her gold Firebird, she delivers a dramatic slap to the thief’s face. As she speeds off into the night, her loyal friends stay behind to deliver some well-deserved punches to the former accomplice, bringing a satisfying close to the decade-long wait.