If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or SoundCloud lately, you’ve likely stumbled upon the haunting snippets of an unreleased track. It isn't just another lo-fi indie hit. People are calling it the "Celeste" song, and honestly, the context makes it one of the most unsettling pieces of music in recent memory.
The story isn't about catchy hooks or viral trends. It's about a 15-year-old girl named Celeste Rivas Hernandez and a discovery that effectively ended the career of rising star d4vd (David Anthony Burke).
Why the d4vd - celeste lyrics are so controversial
Most d4vd fans know him for "Romantic Homicide"—a song about the metaphorical "death" of a relationship. But the leaked lyrics for "Celeste" take a sharp, literal, and very dark turn. The song was never officially released on an album like Withered, but it began circulating heavily after September 2025.
The lyrics in the leak are blunt. He sings about a girl with his name "tattooed on her chest" and mentions "smelling her on his clothes." He even goes as far as to sing, "I wanna make you be suicidal."
When news broke that human remains were found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke in Los Angeles, the internet did what it does best: it started connecting dots. The victim was later identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez. She had been missing since April 2024.
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What the song actually says
The lyrics aren't just moody; they feel like a diary of a relationship that was hidden from the public eye. Fans found old photos of a girl who looked like Celeste with a "David" tattoo, matching exactly what the song describes.
Some of the most-discussed lines include:
- "Be my valentine / I wanna make you be suicidal"
- "Oh, Celeste / The girl with my name tattooed on her chest"
- "Smell her on my clothes like WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW?"
Basically, the track shifted from being a "vibe" to being potential evidence.
The Timeline of the Celeste Rivas Hernandez Case
To understand why these lyrics matter, you have to look at the timeline. d4vd was on his Withered World Tour in late 2025. He was performing in cities like Minneapolis and Portland while, unbeknownst to his audience, an abandoned Tesla in a Los Angeles impound lot held a horrific secret.
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On September 16, 2025, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed the body was Celeste. She had just turned 15.
The fallout was immediate.
- Tour Canceled: The remaining dates of the world tour were scrapped instantly.
- Brand Distancing: Major collaborators like Hollister and Crocs pulled their campaigns.
- Industry Scrubbing: Even Kali Uchis began the process of removing their collaboration, "Crashing," from streaming platforms.
It's a mess. A massive, tragic mess.
Fact vs. Theory: What we actually know in 2026
By January 2026, the situation has become a legal stalemate. While prosecutors are reportedly gearing up for charges, no official murder charge has been filed against Burke yet.
However, the "artist" persona is effectively dead.
His label, Darkroom Records (the same label that launched Billie Eilish), has quietly removed him from their roster. You won't find him on their active artist lists anymore. His music was even pulled from the Madden NFL 26 soundtrack.
The most disturbing part for many is the "DIY" nature of his music. He famously started recording in his sister's closet using a phone. Now, investigators are looking at whether that same isolation played a role in the darker aspects of his life.
The Shift in Fan Perspective
Before the investigation, d4vd was the poster child for Gen Z indie-pop. He was relatable. He liked Attack on Titan and played Fortnite.
Now, when you listen to the d4vd - celeste lyrics, it feels like you're hearing something you weren't supposed to. The "moody" aesthetic of his previous hits now feels like a warning sign that everyone missed.
Experts in the music industry, like those cited in The Line of Best Fit, often talked about d4vd's ability to "act" through his music. He once said he wanted people to connect with the art instead of his face. Looking back, that desire for anonymity feels a lot more calculated than it did in 2022.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Listeners
If you are following this case or still have his music in your playlists, here is the current reality of the situation:
- Streaming Revenue: While his old hits like "Here With Me" are still on Spotify, be aware that streaming them still generates revenue for the artist and his (former) legal entities.
- Archived Content: Many of the "Celeste" snippets are being scrubbed from YouTube and TikTok due to copyright claims or the sensitive nature of the ongoing criminal investigation.
- Legal Updates: Follow the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office for official filings rather than relying on TikTok "true crime" creators, who often mix rumors with facts.
- Support for the Victim: Many fans have pivoted from supporting the artist to raising awareness for the Rivas Hernandez family and organizations that help locate missing minors.
The tragedy of Celeste Rivas Hernandez serves as a grim reminder that the "lo-fi" personas we see online often hide realities that are far more complex—and sometimes, far more dangerous—than a three-minute song can capture.