Fortnite Offers Refunds for D4vd Items After Singer Charged With Murder

This one's a bit different from your usual Fortnite news.

Epic Games confirmed on April 28, 2026 that players will be able to immediately self-service refund any D4vd items in their locker , following growing community pressure after the singer was charged with serious crimes. D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, was arrested in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The teenager's remains were discovered in September 2025 in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke, after the car was impounded near a home he was residing in in the Hollywood Hills.

Burke faces charges including first-degree murder, sexual acts with a minor, and mutilation of remains. He remains in custody without bail and has pleaded not guilty. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 1.

What's Available for Refund

The refundable items include the 'Feel It' emote, the 'What Are You Waiting For' Jam Track, and the 'Locked & Loaded' Jam Track. Each was priced at 500 V-Bucks. There is also D4vd's Locker Bundle, though removing that one is more complicated given it mainly consisted of existing premium items that Burke had selected to be bundled at a discount.

For most players, 500 V-Bucks is not a life-changing amount. The refund push is less about money and more about not wanting any trace of the artist sitting in their locker.

How It Got Here

The story actually starts a few months back. A Reddit user named NickSaysHenlo posted to r/FortniteBR confirming Epic had granted his refund request. He shared a screenshot of the email exchange with an Epic support agent, and what made people raise an eyebrow was that his request had originally been submitted on September 18, 2025, ten days after Hernandez's remains were discovered. Seven months of silence, then suddenly a response.

Whether that timing was coincidence or not, Epic moved fast once things became public. The Fortnite Status account on X posted on April 26 confirming the changes, with Epic saying "We hear the concerns. We have a bunch of changes we're rolling out over time. The first one will be available on Tuesday April 28th, when anyone who purchased one of these items will be able to get an immediate self-service refund."

D4vd and Fortnite's History

D4vd was well known as a Fortnite player long before he became a signed artist, often uploading songs set to his own gameplay footage. It was that content that helped him build his early audience. The game later brought him in officially, adding his music to Fortnite Festival and running a D4vid Cup in August 2024 where players could unlock the Feel It emote early.

Fortnite is a youth-heavy platform where artist collaborations often remain visible long after real-world controversies emerge , which is part of why this situation has hit differently. This is not a brand deal going stale or a celebrity saying something awkward. The charges are severe.

What Happens Next

Prominent Fortnite leaker ShiinaBR has suggested Epic may remove the four D4vd items entirely once there is a verdict in the criminal trial, though that remains speculation at this point. Epic has not publicly stated any plans for full removal.

For now, players have a clean path to clear these items from their lockers. Go to your account settings from today, April 28, and the self-service refund option should be there. Anyone who already filed a support ticket should see that processed soon too.

The criminal case continues. Burke is due back in court on May 1.