He began his music career creating soundtracks for video games. A song of his then became popular on TikTok, quickly launching him to fame. By November 2023, at just 18 years old, he performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live, marking his first appearance on late-night television.
D4vd, the rising music star, is now facing a difficult situation. After police in Los Angeles found the remains of a missing 15-year-old girl in a Tesla registered to him, a homicide investigation has begun, shifting the focus from his success to a serious legal issue.
People who previously supported D4vd are now trying to separate themselves from him as concerns grow about the allegations against him.
Over just a few days, many artists stopped following him online, requests were made to remove their joint projects from streaming services, companies ended their advertising deals with him, and his tour was put on hold as investigations continue.
Throughout all of this, D4vd – whose real name is David Anthony Burke – hasn’t spoken publicly. All questions have been sent to his lawyer, Blair Berk, but she hasn’t offered any comment. Berk has previously worked with high-profile clients like Prince Andrew.
Police searched a house in the Hollywood Hills that Burke was renting for $20,000 per month on Wednesday. Investigators left with bags of evidence, including a laptop computer.
So far, no one has been charged and authorities haven’t identified any suspects. Twenty-year-old Burke is reportedly working with investigators.
The situation began on September 8th when a terrible smell led police to a shocking discovery at a Hollywood tow yard. Officers found a black Tesla Model Y that had been there for just two days, and a foul odor was coming from its front trunk.
Investigators discovered the remains of Celeste Rivas, a 15-year-old from Lake Elsinore, California, inside a plastic bag. Her family reported her missing in May 2024, when she was 13 years old. The remains were partially decomposed.
According to sources who spoke with the Daily Mail on Wednesday, actor Charles Burke was allegedly involved in a relationship with a minor, identified as Rivas. While the exact timeline is unknown, one source claims Burke first contacted Rivas when she was only 12 years old.
According to Matthew Rivas, the brother of the victim, his family knew about the alleged relationship. He stated that his sister left home in May 2024 to go to a movie with Burke and never returned. He also mentioned that Burke frequently picked her up in a Tesla – the same vehicle where her body was later discovered.
According to a source at the Daily Mail, Rivas left home because her family disapproved of her relationship with Burke.
According to the same source, Rivas stayed in touch with friends for over a year after she was reported missing. However, all communication from her suddenly stopped around late July or early August.
Authorities haven’t yet confirmed how or when Rivas died. However, they believe she had been dead for a while, as her remains were badly decomposed when found.
When Rivas’s body was discovered in his towed car, Burke was on tour in the United States as part of his Withered World Tour.
He’d already gained significant exposure, performing at the famous Coachella festival months before. Burke also played his song “Feel It” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, but that performance is no longer available on the show’s online platforms.
Authorities found Burke’s car left on a street in the Hollywood Hills, near his rental house, after it had been there for several days. The car was near the intersection of Doheny Place and Bluebird Avenue, and Burke was renting a four-bedroom, four-bathroom home in the area.
I’ve been following this case closely, and it’s still unclear if Representative Burke knew David Rivas. Right now, detectives are looking at photos and social media to see if they can figure out what, if any, kind of relationship they had. It’s all pretty murky at the moment, but they seem to be trying to piece together if they were connected somehow.
With more and more questions being raised, people who used to support him have become quiet – and some have even stopped supporting him completely.
Kari Uchis, a Grammy-winning musician, was the first to take action. On Wednesday, she told her Instagram followers she was trying to have her song ‘Crashing,’ which features Burke, taken off of all music streaming platforms.
The news followed a flood of angry questions from fans about her connection to Burke, shortly after Rivas’s identity became public.
She explained that she collaborated with him on a song, but it’s now being removed from platforms due to recent, troubling reports.
As of Friday afternoon, the song was still available on Spotify. Spotify has been asked for a statement regarding Uchis’ request to remove it, and whether any other artists who have collaborated with Burke have made similar requests.
Besides Benson, Burke has worked with artists like Hyunjin from Stray Kids, Laufey, 21 Savage, and Holly Humberstone. He also composed a theme song for the popular video game Fortnite.
Despite recent controversy, Burke’s music remains incredibly popular. He recently saw a significant increase in listeners on Spotify, climbing 63 places on the Global Artists chart to reach #90. He already has 35 million monthly listeners on the platform.
I’ve noticed something really concerning about my favorite artist. Even though he still has a huge fanbase, it seems like he’s alienating people in the industry. I’ve seen so many other musicians and famous faces unfollow him on Instagram – it’s honestly heartbreaking to watch.
Popular artists and personalities like Uchis, Tyler, the Creator, Daniel Caesar, Addison Rae, Tate MacRae, and Ice Spice are highly sought after.
Fortnite has reportedly removed him from its social media following, and several streamers he previously worked with have done the same.
Pokimane, who had previously streamed with Burke, posted a statement on social media after getting a lot of messages.
She expressed shock and dismay upon learning the news, and hopes those responsible are brought to justice. She also sent her condolences and support to the victim’s family.
Burke’s social media is full of photos of him with many famous musicians.
Last fall, he performed as an opening act for SZA during the North American dates of her SOS Tour. A photo online shows them together behind the scenes after a show.
Photos and videos show him socializing with popular artists like Billie Eilish, Rosalía, 21 Savage, and music producer Benny Blanco.
I’ve been following Liam Burke’s tour for his first album, ‘Withered,’ ever since it kicked off in early August, and it’s been amazing! He played shows in Boston, Montreal, and Toronto at the end of August, and then moved through the Midwest with stops in Detroit, Chicago, and Indianapolis earlier this month.
His Seattle concert scheduled for Thursday was cancelled with very little notice. As a result, his entire tour – including all shows in Europe, the UK, and Australia – is now on hold with no confirmed return date.
The tour’s main focus was on themes of death and remembering those who have passed. Attendees were met with a casket and a guest book, offering a space to express their sympathy for ITAMI, a character Burke portrays in his music and concerts.
Burke’s music and overall style often feature dark and unsettling themes, and he frequently uses images of blood and violence in his artwork and branding.
He sold unique, limited-edition shirts at his store – white shirts with red streaks designed to look like blood – and marketed them with his new album.
Even though the items were still shown for sale on Thursday evening, they had been taken down from his website by Friday.
Interscope Records also announced on Friday that they were postponing the release of Burke’s deluxe album.
Earlier this month, both Crocs and Hollister removed the performer from their online and social media advertisements following the discovery of their remains.
The campaign launched on September 3rd, featuring Burke wearing Crocs and Hollister clothes in matching pastel outfits.
The products are still available to buy online, but Burke’s face has been removed from all the pictures used to advertise them.
The investigation into Rivas’s death remains active and ongoing.
According to the LAPD, detectives found several pieces of evidence while searching the home rented by Burke on Wednesday night. They plan to examine these items in the next few days.
A source told TMZ officers were searching for blood evidence and DNA.
A GoFundMe has been set up for Rivas’s family.
The family of Celeste Rivas Hernandez has confirmed she was the person found last week. They shared that she was a cherished daughter, sister, cousin, and friend, and are deeply saddened by her loss.
Her family is deeply saddened by this terrible loss and are asking for assistance with funeral expenses. Any donation, no matter how small, would be gratefully received.
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2025-09-20 02:52