D4vd: Interscope Kept Him for 8 Months After Murder

Record label Interscope Records continued to work with singer D4vd for eight months after he was accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas. The contract was terminated only in December 2025, just four months before his arrest. This information emerged during the preliminary hearing in the case.

On the second day of the hearing, Wednesday, Interscope's senior vice president of finance, Louis Poimiroo, testified. He confirmed that D4vd's contract, signed through Mogul Vision, was terminated in December 2025, and no payments have been made to the artist since the start of 2026. This raises questions about why the label took so long to react to such serious accusations.

Prosecutors allege that D4vd stabbed Celeste to death in his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025. Just three days later, he released his debut album, WITHERED. The release of the record at such a time drew additional attention to the case and sparked criticism towards the artist and his circle.

Poimiroo also stated that between 2022 and 2025, Interscope paid D4vd and related entities more than 5.1 million dollars, with about 2.3 million in 2025 alone. These funds covered recording costs, legal and management fees, and other expenses related to his music career. The executive noted that the minimum contract value was 7 million dollars, and could have reached 19 million if the label exercised options for additional albums.

Additionally, the label received a cut from brand partnerships with Bose, Hollister, Crocs, and AMC. Witnesses estimated D4vd's earnings at around 12 million dollars for 2023–2025, including a $600,000 advance after signing with Interscope in 2022 and larger payments later.

On the first day of the hearing, gruesome photos of Celeste's remains were presented, which her parents watched from the courtroom gallery. An investigator also testified that during booking, a tattoo with Celeste's name was found on D4vd's finger. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated that the death penalty remains a possibility.

D4vd has pleaded not guilty. The case continues to generate significant public attention, and many are wondering why the label did not cut ties earlier given the severity of the charges. The hearing is ongoing, and new details may shed light on the circumstances of the tragedy.