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D4vd's rise to fame -- and infamy -- has been pretty meteoric, as the performer went from internet notoriety to real-life success.

However, the singer's career has been clouded by the recent discovery of a dead body in his car, and subsequent revelations about his alleged connections to the deceased individual.

Here's a look at how the performer made a name for himself before he became involved in the case.

D4vd -- legal name David Anthony Burke -- was born in Queens, New York City, and he later moved with his family to the Houston, Texas area, where he was raised.

The singer mainly listened to gospel music growing up, and he was homeschooled in his younger years, according to DIY.

The performer began his musical career after his Fortnite gaming montages were demonetized on YouTube for copyright violations.

D4vd's mother encouraged him to start making his own music for the clips, and he later began recording songs in his sister's closet using apps on his phone.

D4vd began sharing tracks on SoundCloud, and he released breakout single, "Romantic Homicide," in 2022, after clips from the track gained popularity on TikTok.

He later signed with Darkroom/Interscope, and he released his debut EP, titled "Petals To Thorns," in May 2023, and he started his first tour the same month.

D4vd quickly rose to fame in the music industry, as he went on to release several other singles, make guest appearances on other artists' tracks, and embark on multiple tours, both as a headliner and a supporting act.

The performer eventually released his debut album, "Withered," in April 2025, though it was preceded by the release of multiple singles.

D4vd was enmeshed in controversy in September 2025, when a chopped-up, decomposed body was found in the front trunk of a Tesla that was abandoned in the Hollywood Hills ... the Tesla was registered under his name. The car was impounded and taken to a Hollywood tow yard, where a smell emanating from the vehicle prompted the discovery of the body.

Although the singer began cooperating with authorities after they started looking into how the body ended up in the car, he was removed from an ad campaign for Hollister.

The investigation into how the body ended up in the car didn't stop D4vd from performing, however, as he kept touring and played a show in Minneapolis just a day after the body was found in the car.

The case turned even more mysterious when the body was identified on September 16, though not publicly, pending notification of next of kin ... the next day it was revealed it was a 15-year-old girl named Celeste Rivas who was reported missing in 2024.

Connections between D4vd and Celeste began popping up after she was identified, and her mother told TMZ her daughter, who'd been missing ever since April 2024, had a boyfriend named David. We also revealed Celeste and the singer had matching tattoos.

We later learned the singer was seen in the area where Celeste had lived prior to her disappearance, and a photo began circulating online showing him posing next to a girl with a resemblance to the deceased individual. He also professed his love for someone named Celeste in a leaked demo track from December 2023.

D4vd ended up pausing his world tour after the girl's body was identified. LAPD officers subsequently began speaking with residents of the area where the Tesla was abandoned to find further information in the case.

The case involving a chopped-up teen girl found in a Tesla belonging to singer D4vd is intensifying ... Los Angeles police searched a home in the affluent neighborhood where the car was abandoned.

According to ABC7 ... a swarm of officers spent several hours at a Hollywood Hills home Wednesday night and seized a computer, among other items, from the residence. For the moment, it is unclear whether the evidence is connected to D4vd's Tesla.

Neighborhood sources tell TMZ ... yellow tape went up around 3 PM yesterday at both ends of the street. There were tons of unmarked cars and about 10-12 law enforcement officers at the home until midnight, going through the garage and home.

Neighborhood sources also tell TMZ ... a black Tesla with Texas license plates was often seen parked in front of the home.

As TMZ reported, the decomposed and dismembered body of the girl found in the front trunk of a Tesla owned by D4vd has been identified as Celeste Rivas. The Tesla was abandoned in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, and was impounded two weeks ago ... an odor emanating from the vehicle in a Hollywood tow yard prompted the discovery of the body in the car on Sept. 8.

TMZ got a tip last week that Celeste was the victim, and we contacted her mother. The mother said Celeste had a boyfriend named David and she was suspicious because police had said the victim had a "Shhh..." tattoo on her right index finger. The mother said her daughter had that same tattoo. We then contacted LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division and gave them the mom's name and phone number.

The NFL's probe into the recent allegations of domestic violence against Tyreek Hill is moving full steam ahead ... as TMZ Sports has learned the wide receiver's accuser's attorney is slated to chat with the league's most prominent investigator later Thursday.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us ... Keeta Vaccaro's lawyer, Evan R. Marks, is set to talk in a matter of hours with Lisa Friel, the former New York prosecutor who now works as the senior vice president for investigations.

We're told their conversation could ultimately lead to talks between Friel and Vaccaro.

Celeste Rivas' name became known nationwide when we revealed her body had been found in a Tesla belonging to D4vd.

And the story's only gone deeper from there, as we found out her whereabouts had been unknown prior to the discovery of her corpse.

We're going to take a look into the deceased individual's background and check out the circumstances surrounding her death.

Celeste was last seen in April 2024 in Lake Elsinore, California, about an hour and a half southeast of Los Angeles.

Her mom spoke to us shortly after her daughter's body was identified and said her daughter had been missing for more than a year, and that she was only 13 when she vanished.

Celeste had a tattoo reading "Shhh..." on her right index finger -- and D4vd has an identical tattoo on his right index finger.

Her mom also stated her daughter had a boyfriend named David at the time of her disappearance.

Celeste's body was discovered in September 2025 in the front trunk of a Tesla at a tow yard in Hollywood.

The car had been at the tow yard for several days after it was abandoned on a residential street in the Hollywood Hills. LAPD officers found the body after they received a report about a foul odor emanating from the vehicle at the impound lot.

Celeste's body was located in a bag stored in the Tesla's front trunk. It had been chopped up and was in a state of advanced decomposition when it was found.

Authorities did not immediately release the dead person's name ... describing the body as a female about 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighing about 70 pounds, with wavy dark hair, with the previously described tattoo.

We confirmed the Tesla was registered in Hempstead, Texas, to D4vd's real name, David Anthony Burke.

Authorities confirmed Celeste's body was found on September 8, according to NBC News.

Law enforcement sources told us D4vd claimed he had no idea anything had gone wrong, and we were also told he was cooperating with authorities in the investigation.

D4vd was in the middle of his world tour when the news about the body being found was revealed, and although he performed several dates after the news broke, he canceled his show in Seattle scheduled for September 17, the day Celeste's body was formally identified.

D4vd's Tesla was abandoned on a street in the Hollywood Hills before it was towed and impounded with a dead body inside ... and cops are scouring the area where the car was parked and looking for video that would identify the driver and maybe crack the case.

Multiple people who live on the block where the singer's Tesla was abandoned tell TMZ ... LAPD swept the area and are talking with every neighbor they can track down to see if there is Ring camera or surveillance video showing D4vd's car.

We're told cops are not only asking residents for video showing the main street where the car was towed from, they're also searching for video showing nearby alleyways ... suggesting cops believe the Tesla may have driven through an alley before being abandoned to avoid detection.

Jimmy Kimmel is in the crosshairs of law enforcement with federal investigators mulling whether to investigate the late-night comedy host for his comments on the Charlie Kirk assassination.

Brendan Carr -- the Federal Communications Commission Chairman -- went on "The Benny Show" podcast Wednesday and said the agency was contemplating launching the probe into Kimmel over his statement that Kirk's alleged killer was a MAGA supporter.

As you know, Tyler Robinson fatally shot Kirk during the Turning Point USA founder's event at Utah Valley University last Wednesday, according to police. State prosecutors charged Robinson with aggravated murder and 6 other felonies and are now seeking the death penalty.

Carr told podcast host Benny Johnson that Kimmel's behavior "appears to be some of the sickest conduct possible." He said the FCC sees certain avenues that can be taken to punish Kimmel -- including a possible suspension for his remark.

Singer D4vd has a tattoo on his finger with the letters "Shhh..." -- and the young girl's body found in his Tesla has the same tattoo on her finger.

As TMZ reported, the body has now been identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas. Authorities said she had a tattoo on her right index finger with the letters "Shhh..." David's tattoo is also on his right index finger.

TMZ spoke with Celeste's mom last week, and she told us about her daughter's tattoo, adding it was in red ink. The mom said Celeste had been missing for more than a year, but she was suspicious of the Tesla discovery because she said Celeste's boyfriend's name was David.

Isabella Ladera, an influencer in Miami, is dragging her ex-boyfriend, Colombian pop star Beéle, to court ... she's suing, claiming he's to blame for their private sex tape leaking on the internet after their split.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Isabella claims they would film sex videos on their phones at Beéle's request during their relationship, and one leaked on the internet a few months after they broke up.

Isabella says when the sex tape surfaced September 7 and went viral, "the Earth stood still" for her ... and she claims Beéle was the only person who had access to the video other than her ... and she says she deleted her copy long before the footage emerged online.

Snoop Dogg has axed his New Zealand concert just 3 days before he was supposed to hit the stage ... after the show's promoter was reportedly found guilty of sexually assaulting his children's babysitter following multiple related accusations.

The "Drop It Like It's Hot" hitmaker was scheduled to perform at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland, NZ on Saturday ... but the promoter, 4ward Entertainment, announced Wednesday the event had been cancelled due to "circumstances beyond" its control, stating ... "Our goal was to deliver a first-class, New Zealand-first show and we are saddened this is no longer possible."

The abrupt cancellation comes just a week after local promoter Pato Alvarez was revealed as the previously unnamed "entertainment industry figure" accused of sexually assaulting multiple women, according to multiple reports. Stuff reports Alvarez faced 25 charges involving nine women ... he was convicted on two charges of indecent assault and attempted unlawful sexual connection involving his babysitter in 2023, which has just recently come to light.

Alvarez's fought to keep his identity sealed, but the Supreme Court of New Zealand rejected his motion early last week, The New Zealand Herald reported.

The outlet also reported women were encouraging others to boycott any music events he was promoting after his name was released.

Alvarez gushed to Stuff just last week that he was behind Snoop's upcoming gig in NZ, gloating ... “Snoop Dogg’s team contacted us directly, wanting to stop in New Zealand for a special performance on his way to Australia."

The outlet reports Alvarez was also involved in the cancelled Juicy Festival, which was cut after promoters failed to obtain a liquor license.

Boxing superstar Devin Haney is suing his ex-fiancée once again ... this time claiming she's wrongfully keeping $350,000 worth of gifts he says he gave her in anticipation of their wedding.

Haney filed the latest suit against Leena Sayed in Los Angeles County last week ... alleging she won't return several pricey handbags and jewelry.

Haney claimed he got her the items -- which included things like Hermes bags, an Audemars Piguet watch, a diamond ring, diamond earrings and several other pricey purses -- under the premise that they were going to tie the knot.

Wendy Williams is being ordered to sit down for a deposition in a lawsuit her guardian filed against A&E over a Lifetime documentary.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, a judge ordered an early deposition of Wendy ... and the judge said Wendy's dementia diagnosis doesn't make her legally unfit to testify, and it will be up to a jury to decide how to weigh her testimony.

The judge said the deposition will be held remotely in a setting comfortable for Wendy ... and the A&E lawyers can only grill her for 3 hours max. The judge said the deposition may be held over no more than 3 days, with reasonable breaks being accommodated for Wendy.

Tyler Robinson -- the 22-year-old Utah native charged with murdering conservative pundit Charlie Kirk -- just went in front of a judge for the first time ... and he was stone-faced.

Robinson appeared via video call for his first court hearing Tuesday in Utah ... staring blankly ahead as a judge rattled off the charges against him.

Earlier Tuesday, Robinson was officially charged with aggravated murder ... and prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty. When capital punishment was brought up in court, Robinson simply looked down.

An arrest has been made in the theft of unreleased Beyoncé music ... but the tunes are still MIA.

Atlanta police tell TMZ ... Kelvin Evans was arrested for allegedly breaking into an SUV over the summer and taking the superstar's super important property.

As we told you ... cops responded to a parking garage in July on a report of a theft from a motor vehicle. Two of Bey's crew members -- a choreographer and a dancer -- told officers the trunk window of their rented Jeep Wagoneer had been damaged and two suitcases were stolen.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman spoke at a press conference Tuesday after Erik and Lyle Menendez failed to prove they deserved a new trial ... Hochman had previously condemned the bid as a "Hail Mary" attempt.

The top prosecutor reiterated many of his past sentiments, defining his stance of opposing parole for the brothers ... and once again slamming their self-defense strategy as a "bold-faced lie" given the evidence.

He also confirmed he hasn't spoken to Erik and Lyle's extended family following the judge's decision.

11:26 AM PT -- Prosecutors officially slapped alleged Charlie Kirk murderer Tyler Robinson with 7 criminal charges ... including aggravated murder.

Robinson is facing 6 felony charges and one misdemeanor. Prosecutors said during the news conference they intend to seek the death penalty.

The other charges ... felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of tampering with a witness, and a misdemeanor count of violent offense committed in the presence of a child.

Utah law enforcement personnel are set to hold a press conference Tuesday after charges were filed against Tyler Robinson, who is suspected of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk ... officials are expected to give details on each of the counts.

This update comes less than a week after Robinson was apprehended as the main suspect in the conservative pundit's assassination ... he was booked on suspicion of committing 3 crimes in the case, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury.

Robinson was formally charged Tuesday ... with Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray previously noting that they're in the "very early stages" of the investigation.

Erik and Lyle Menendez's last-ditch effort to get a new trial following their parole denials was unsuccessful ... as a Los Angeles judge has shut down their retrial request.

L.A. County Superior Court Judge William Ryan denied the Menendez brothers' legal challenge, explaining his reason in a 17-page response, saying the alleged new evidence -- seemingly proving the murder convictions were unfair -- is not "particularly strong," in documents obtained by TMZ.

He wrote ... "The evidence alleged here is not so compelling that it would have produced a reasonable doubt in the mind of at least one juror or supportive of an imperfect self-defense instruction."