‘It’s really like that’: country musician allegedly cheated on, so she cast her ex’s favorite actor in her music video

Nashville-based country musician TAELA just went insanely viral when she admitted that she got revenge on her ex through a music video. The singer, who has been open about her divorce, gave her followers a look at the situation. In the one day since, the post has racked up over 26.4 million views and 1.5 million likes on Instagram, along with over 2.8 million views on TikTok.

In the video, TAELA shared a series of clips of herself and actor Steve Howey, known for his roles on Reba and Shameless. It starts with some behind-the-scenes footage and then cuts to a clip from the music video of Rollin’, where Howey steps out of a truck and passionately kisses her. We learn it is revenge from the caption that stated, “It’s really like that,” and the on-screen text that alleged, “remember when my ex cheated on me so i casted his favorite actor for my music video.” 

While she later poked fun at herself in the comments for her typo around “cast,” her fans didn’t even notice. They were completely enamored by everything they just saw. One user noted, “Girl skipped revenge and went straight to warfare. okay diva I see you.” Another added, “I support this type of revenge.” 

Putting your past behind you

Then there was the contingent of viewers who were thirsting over who she cast. One user wrote, “That’s Steve Howey y’all from Reba (Van) and Shameless (Kevin). for those of y’all who didn’t know.” Another fan commented, “I stand by this casting choice!” and someone else joked, “That was a good smooch, ya know for the story of course.” A particularly enthusiastic fan remarked, “God d*mn this man will alwaysssss be FOINNEEEEEEE.”

TikTok was just as enthused. One noted, “Now that’s Definitely the best kind of Karma.” A third joked, “So technically you took your mans, dream man?” One TikToker was all about the visuals, noting, “It’s a GREAT day to have a crush on both of you.” Another TikToker got revenge on an ex by getting back with him only to cheat on him. 

One user pointed out an interesting parallel to the community, “That’s Steve Howey, not Kev. Not Van. That’s Steve. That music video was personal.” In another case of personal revenge, a Chinese woman managed to punish her husband and his mistress through apologies. Since a large group of her viewers was thirsting hard after this first post, TAELA then provided some fan service by uploading more clips.

While TAELA’s approach to dealing with her past is certainly dramatic, it is worth noting that processing betrayal is a complex journey. According to Empathi, healing from infidelity is often a non-linear process that involves biological and neurological responses. The piece notes that when trust is broken, the body can enter a state of biological panic, making it difficult to think clearly. 

Empathi suggests that instead of rushing to make permanent decisions, individuals should focus on processing their emotions, seeking support from trauma-informed therapists, and moving their bodies to help metabolize stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. The goal is to move from a state of threat to a place of safety and self-reclamation.

For TAELA, who grew up in Missouri, music has always been a way to process life’s challenges. On her website, she recalled watching her mother find peace through music as a child, which inspired her own path as a songwriter. Her 2025 debut country album is described as a redemption project, meant to process the pain she was carrying after her divorce from actor Peyton Meyer. This is where Rollin’, and another song, Crocodile Tears, came in.

“I didn’t hold back on my vocal performance, but I also didn’t hold back on my artistry and the concept of it,” she noted. “It’s very personal to me, and it’s about my divorce, my ex-husband. I hadn’t been able to get all of that off my chest in the way that I did with ‘Crocodile Tears.’”

As TAELA looks toward the future, she remains focused on her two young boys and the joy she has found on the other side of her hardship. She wrote that she hoped her music could offer the same comfort to others that she found in her early influences. As she says, “Even when it feels like there’s nothing left to live for, there is something to live for. Music is the closest thing we have to magic.”