Singer-songwriter D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is drawing sharp criticism from the Fortnite community following new details revealed in court about the ongoing murder case involving 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
Prosecutors disclosed during a status hearing on or around April 23, 2026, that a forensic review of Burke’s devices uncovered more than 40 terabytes of digital evidence — including a “significant amount” of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) found on his iPhone and iCloud account. The revelation has intensified calls from players for Epic Games to remove D4vd’s music tracks and emotes from the popular video game.
Burke, 21, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains. Prosecutors allege he killed Rivas Hernandez to silence her about prior sexual abuse and later dismembered her body. Her remains were discovered in September 2025 inside a Tesla registered to Burke. He was arrested in April 2026 and remains held without bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for early May.
D4vd rose to prominence with emotive R&B, indie, and pop-leaning tracks such as “Romantic Homicide.” Prior to his mainstream breakthrough, he built an early following through gaming content, including Fortnite montages posted on YouTube. Epic Games partnered with him in 2024–2025, incorporating several of his songs as Jam Tracks — including “Locked and Loaded” (which served as an official anthem for the Fortnite Champion Series) and “What Are You Waiting For” — along with the “Feel It” and “Trophy Drop” emotes. A related bundle was also released. The items remain accessible in players’ lockers if previously purchased with V-Bucks, though they have not returned to the Item Shop rotation.
Following the latest court disclosures, Fortnite players have taken to Reddit’s r/FortNiteBR, X, and other platforms to demand the permanent removal of D4vd’s content from the game, arguing that it is inappropriate for a title with a large young audience to feature work tied to an artist facing such serious allegations involving child exploitation. Some users have petitioned for refunds or support-assisted removals, while a smaller contingent has urged separating the art from the artist. As of April 25, 2026, Epic Games had not issued a public statement on the matter, and promotional material for the collaboration remained visible on some official channels.
The case has drawn particular attention in gaming circles because of D4vd’s prior connection to Fortnite content creation and the game’s history of scrutiny regarding child safety and privacy issues. Epic has previously adjusted or distanced itself from controversial collaborations, though the company rarely deletes already-purchased cosmetics outright.
Burke’s legal team has maintained his innocence, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has described the digital evidence as voluminous, requiring careful handling due to the sensitive nature of the CSAM material. Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman addressed the discovery in court, noting that the prosecution is working toward a tight timeline for the upcoming preliminary hearing.
