The brother of singer D4vd has ignited online fury by launching his own music career amid the Celeste Rivas murder case. D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, is currently held in a Los Angeles detention center on charges of first-degree murder, child sexual abuse, and mutilation of human remains, following the gruesome death of 14-year-old Rivas. Her dismembered body was discovered decomposing in the trunk of an abandoned Tesla registered to D4vd in September 2025.
The 21-year-old musician, since dropped by his label Interscope Records, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 26. Now, with D4vd behind bars, his younger brother Caleb Burke has seized the opportunity to release original songs about 'sex' and 'love' under the pseudonym 'Kova'. The move has been widely condemned as 'tone-deaf' on social media, with users expressing outrage and even calling for the entire Burke family to be 'locked up'.
Online Backlash
One X user tweeted, 'Whole family tone-deaf as hell…. Dude really saw his sibling facing murder charges and dropped sex songs!!' Another added, 'Yeah I ain't feeling that. He could've been did music but as soon as this weird sh*t come out about his brother he want to launch a music career?' Many accused Caleb of exploiting Rivas's tragic death for personal gain and capitalizing on the case's notoriety.
However, some defended Caleb, arguing he is 'a whole different person' from D4vd and should not be judged for his brother's crimes. Caleb, believed to be 20, first teased his music career on Instagram on April 9. Just two days before D4vd's arrest on April 16, he released his debut single 'Imaginary Love', promising more music soon. His Instagram account, recently created according to TMZ, makes no mention of his brother or the murder case.
Music Releases
On Monday, Caleb dropped his follow-up single 'S*x', promoting it with a stylized video on Instagram. The lyrics include, 'Cause girl, you're sexy as hell / From heaven you fell / All on my tongue / But don't kiss and tell.' Both songs are available on Spotify and Apple Music under the name 'Kova', with Caleb credited as songwriter, singer, composer, and producer.
Caleb appears close to his jailed brother, having appeared in a 2023 Spotify documentary about D4vd's rise to fame. He has also performed onstage with D4vd and previously used the name 'Cvleb'. Notably, Caleb and his parents were summoned to court in February during the LAPD investigation, though prosecutors failed to have them appear before a grand jury.
Chilling Case Details
The backlash comes as new court documents allege D4vd used chainsaws to dismember Rivas and a 'burn cage' to destroy evidence. The LA County District Attorney's Office claims Burke knew Rivas was underage and pursued a sexual relationship with her. According to the nine-page preliminary trial brief, Rivas threatened to expose their relationship after they broke up in April 2024, jeopardizing Burke's multi-million dollar career.
Prosecutors allege Burke sent an Uber to pick up Rivas on April 23, 2024, and then stabbed her to death at his Hollywood Hills rental. He then attempted to cover up the crime by sending a text asking where she was, driving to Santa Barbara to dispose of evidence, and ordering a shovel, chainsaws, a body bag, and a burn cage under a false name. Her body was placed in a pool to prevent blood spill, and her fingers were amputated to remove a tattoo of his name.
Burke is charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous lewd acts with a minor, and mutilating human remains. If convicted, he faces life without parole or the death penalty. His defense attorney has requested the preliminary hearing be continued to May 26, with another hearing on May 12.
