Court Testimony Clarifies Why Interscope Records Didn’t Immediately Drop D4vd
New testimony and additional details emerging from D4vd‘s preliminary hearing are offering greater context about one question that has followed the case: Why did Interscope Records remain under contract with the singer for months after prosecutors allege Celeste Rivas was killed?
While testimony revealed that D4vd remained signed to the label until December 2025, sources familiar with the situation say the timeline is more nuanced than it initially appears. According to those sources, Interscope’s response evolved as investigators uncovered new information, ultimately leading the label to terminate the artist’s recording agreement months before his arrest.
The developments surfaced during the second day of D4vd’s preliminary hearing, where prosecutors continued presenting evidence in the criminal case.
The Timeline Behind Interscope’s Decision
According to prosecutors, D4vd allegedly killed Celeste Rivas in April 2025.
However, authorities say her remains were not discovered until Sept. 8, when investigators found them inside the front trunk of D4vd’s impounded Tesla.
Sources with direct knowledge told TMZ that once Rivas’ body was discovered, Interscope immediately stopped promoting D4vd.
Although the recording contract technically remained in effect after that point, the sources said the singer had not been arrested or publicly accused of a crime during the following months.
According to the sources, D4vd was not publicly identified as a possible suspect until mid-November.
They say that development marked a turning point for the label, which then determined it could no longer continue its business relationship with the artist.
As previously reported, Interscope terminated D4vd’s recording agreement in December 2025—roughly four months before his eventual arrest and criminal charges.
The sources added that executives closely monitored the investigation throughout that period and ultimately believed ending the relationship was the appropriate course of action.
Executive Testimony Details the Contract
Wednesday’s hearing also included testimony from Louis Poimiroo, Interscope Records’ senior vice president of finance.
Poimiroo confirmed that D4vd’s recording agreement through Mogul Vision was terminated in December 2025.
He also testified that no payments were made to the artist during 2026 following the contract’s termination.
According to Poimiroo, the agreement carried a minimum potential value of $7 million and could have reached $19 million if Interscope had exercised options for additional albums.
The executive further testified that the company also shared in revenue generated through D4vd’s brand partnerships with Bose, Hollister, Crocs and AMC.
That testimony helped establish the financial scope of the recording agreement before it ended.
The Criminal Case Continues
D4vd currently faces one count of murder, one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and one count of unlawful mutilation of human remains.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The preliminary hearing is intended to determine whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed. It is not a trial, and the court has not determined D4vd’s guilt or innocence.
Because the criminal proceedings remain active, all allegations presented by prosecutors have yet to be tested at trial.
Why the Timeline Matters
The testimony highlights the challenges companies can face when responding to criminal investigations that unfold over several months.
According to the sources cited by TMZ, Interscope’s decision-making was shaped by what information was publicly available and when law enforcement identified D4vd as a potential suspect.
The distinction between remaining under contract and actively promoting an artist has become a key point as testimony continues.
For observers following the case, the timeline provides additional context for understanding the label’s actions while the investigation developed.
Human Angle
The legal proceedings have increasingly focused not only on the allegations against D4vd but also on the ripple effects surrounding his music career and business relationships.
As witnesses continue to testify, the courtroom is painting a broader picture of how those connected to the artist responded as the investigation evolved.
The criminal case remains ongoing, with D4vd maintaining his not guilty plea as the court continues to hear evidence.
