Nightline Full Broadcast — Friday, April 17, 2026

[0:04] This is Nightline. [0:06] Tonight, Punch the monkey. [0:08] He's a celebrity A-lister, the preeminent primate. [0:11] He's just so cute. [0:14] The most famous monkey on the planet. [0:16] Look, I cried for that monkey. [0:18] We fly halfway around the world [0:19] to meet the little macaque, [0:21] who's bounced back from bullying. [0:22] He's breaking my heart, absolutely breaking my heart. [0:26] Made him a global hero. [0:27] Damn, monkey got me in my feelings. [0:29] And asking that question everyone wants to know. [0:32] Punch has a girlfriend? [0:34] Plus, David Behind Bars. [0:37] The singer on the edge of superstardom [0:39] with songs like Romantic Homicide. [0:42] In the back of my side. [0:48] Now being held without bail [0:50] at the center of a gruesome mystery [0:52] after the body of an underage teenager [0:54] was found in the trunk of his abandoned Tesla. [0:56] What authorities are saying tonight. [0:59] And The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Levitt [1:03] going from all that drama. [1:04] It's going to be chaos. [1:06] To all that jazz. [1:07] She's very sassy. [1:09] I'd say sassy, impulsive. [1:11] Reuniting with her Dancing with the Stars partner, [1:14] Mark Ballas. [1:15] How she says she handled her first big Broadway blunder. [1:18] I couldn't remember my next line, so I was like. [1:21] And Meghan Trainor's tour canceled. [1:23] The All About That Bass singer. [1:25] I know I'm all about that bass, about that bass, no trouble. [1:28] Why tonight, she says, she's calling it quits on her summer tour [1:31] two months before its kickoff. [1:33] From ABC News headquarters in New York, this is Nightline. [1:39] Thanks for joining us. [1:42] Tonight, rising music star David arrested and held without bail, entangled in a dark mystery [1:48] that's captured headlines. [1:50] The body of a missing teenage girl found in the singer's impounded Tesla igniting months [1:55] of investigation, but no arrests until now. [1:59] If you, like me, had no idea who David or D4VD is before this body was found in the trunk [2:07] of his car. [2:08] Let me catch you up. [2:09] Popular singer David arrested in connection to the death of a teenage girl seen in this [2:15] footage obtained by the California Post. [2:22] This TMZ video capturing the tense moments when LAPD officers made the arrest at his home [2:27] in the Hollywood Hills. [2:33] Authorities say the body of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was discovered late last year, [2:39] dismembered and severely decomposing in the trunk of an abandoned Tesla registered to the singer. [2:45] Sources connected to the investigation telling ABC News the medical examiner has determined [2:49] her death a homicide. [2:51] Sources also saying the arrest comes after investigators compiled evidence and probable cause against [2:56] the musician, the 21-year-old Houston-born alt-pop singer whose full name is David Anthony [3:02] Burke. [3:03] The platinum-selling artist known for hits like Here With Me and Romantic Homicide. [3:21] Attorneys for the singer say in a statement the actual evidence in this case will show [3:24] that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death, [3:29] adding, we will vigorously defend David's innocence. [3:34] Investigators tell ABC Rivas Hernandez's family reported her missing in 2024. [3:39] Her body was later discovered last September stuffed in the car. [3:44] Neighbors saying the Tesla had been parked in front of the home for a while before moving [3:47] to two different places on the street. [3:49] It's a little weird to see a car that I haven't seen here for a long time, had a big dent on [3:53] it, had a Texas plate on it. [3:55] The vehicle impounded and taken to this tow yard for two days before workers noticed an [4:01] odor coming from the front trunk. [4:03] There was one real identifying feature that was on the human remains that was left behind [4:09] and that was a tattoo on the right index finger on the inside that read, David has that exact [4:16] same tattoo on his right index finger as do other celebrities. [4:19] Rihanna apparently made this popular. [4:22] This tattoo is not incriminating yet and the LAPD doesn't even know if the tattoo will come [4:26] into play in all of this. [4:27] When the news broke, David was nearly 2,000 miles away in Minneapolis on tour. [4:34] David went on stage and performed that night and didn't acknowledge anything that happened [4:39] and I think that that appeared to be a little bit offsetting for people. [4:44] The singer later cancelling the rest of his domestic tour after Rivas Hernandez's identity [4:49] was released. [4:50] It's a fall from grace for the artist whose career was on the rise last year performing [4:55] at Coachella and appearing on late night shows like Colbert. [5:03] His music videos now also under scrutiny like this scene in his song One More Dance where [5:08] a body is being placed in the trunk of a car. [5:13] 21 year old David is now being held without bail. [5:21] And of course we'll continue to follow developments in that story but for now we're going to turn [5:24] to a very special story for anyone who's ever felt rejected or picked on. [5:30] A tiny Japanese snow monkey named Punch became a global rallying cry. [5:35] So we launched a special nightline expedition and traveled to the other side of the globe to [5:40] meet the most famous monkey on the planet and witness for ourselves how the little macaque [5:45] has charmed the world with his pluck and resilience. [5:49] And to get to the bottom of those rumors about his love life. [5:52] He's the unlikely hero we didn't know we needed. [6:00] Punch the monkey, abandoned at birth, bullied by his troop with just a stuffed orangutan as [6:06] his companion. [6:10] The entire world seemed to embrace him. [6:12] He's just so cute, I just want everything good in life for him. [6:17] Visitors to this tiny Japanese zoo jumped from 300 to 3,000 a day. [6:23] We are from Monterey, Mexico. [6:24] We're from Australia. [6:25] We're from Calgary, Canada. [6:27] People connecting deeply with his plight, like Paulina from Russia. [6:31] I feel like we have the same vibe with Punch. [6:35] What's the vibe? [6:36] Because he was abandoned by his mom. [6:39] Rejected. [6:40] Same problem. [6:41] I grew up with my grandfather, mother. [6:43] Yeah. [6:44] And probably it's five years. [6:46] Aww. [6:47] And it makes you emotional. [6:49] Yeah. [6:50] A lot. [6:52] Donations pouring in. [6:53] In one week alone, the zoo saying it received almost $150,000. [6:58] Even his caretakers becoming major heartthrobs with marriage proposals and fan clubs galore. [7:04] Finally tonight here, our Persons of the Week. [7:06] We had to choose the team helping Punch the Monkey. [7:09] First of all, we received fan letters from all over the world. [7:14] For example, children will draw pictures of Punch. [7:17] You know, things like, hang in there, Punch, written in various languages from around the [7:22] world. [7:23] We traveled more than 6,000 miles to Ichikawa City Zoo, an hour outside Tokyo, to get the [7:29] inside scoop on how the beloved five-pound Punch is faring. [7:34] It all began when Punch was born, last July during a heat wave, according to zoo official [7:39] Takashi Yasunaga. [7:42] It was an extremely hot day, and his mom was in a lot of distress. [7:46] She was very weak and unable to handle the demands of child-rearing. [7:50] And so, she wasn't able to raise Punch. [7:53] Why did you give Punch the stuffed monkey? [7:58] When Japanese macaques are born, they have a natural instinct to try and cling to something. [8:03] The zookeepers were trying to figure out what they could get him to grasp, trying out all [8:07] sorts of different things. [8:09] But it turned out that the item newborn Punch liked the most was that orangutan plushie. [8:14] Punch was named after famed Japanese comic artist, Monkey Punch, and fed by humans for [8:22] the first six months. [8:24] Without a mother to guide the way, he had a hard time re-assimilating. [8:27] Punch has struggled, going viral, after this video showed him violently dragged by another [8:33] monkey. [8:34] He then escapes to the comfort of his stuffed orangutan. [8:43] It's just, honestly, it's breaking my heart, absolutely breaking my heart. [8:48] You got me in my, got me in my feelings. [8:52] We just landed yesterday, and this was the first place they wanted to stop and see. [8:56] And you guys are from Arizona? [8:58] This is a long way to come to see that what made your daughters want to see Punch, do you [9:02] think? [9:03] I saw him and they thought he was so sweet and cute and cuddly. [9:06] Ikea quickly running out of the orange stuffy after so many bought their own to self-soothe. [9:11] I don't know why this internet monkey has had such an immense emotional, like, reaction [9:18] for me. [9:19] Like, I cried for that monkey. [9:20] Even K-pop phenom Lisa of Blackpink and White Lotus fame posting on her Instagram stories how [9:26] the tables have turned, she's fanning out over Earth's most popular primate. [9:33] When I posted about it on Instagram, it really generated a tremendous amount of buzz. [9:38] The toy, now branded Punch's comfort orangutan, is selling out on Ikea over and over again. [9:44] But don't worry, Punch's supply is well stocked. [9:47] Currently, there are two of them. [9:49] We rotate them so that one is being washed while the other is being used to make sure that [9:54] he has a clean one every day. [9:56] Were you surprised when you heard that Ikea sold out of their orangutans? [10:00] I was extremely surprised. [10:03] Following all the buzz surrounding Punch, Ikea actually reached out to us and sent over [10:08] some stuffed animals. [10:09] They donated more than 30 of them. [10:11] We are very grateful. [10:14] These days, Punch doesn't rely as much on his stuffy, the orangutan nowhere to be seen [10:19] when we visited. [10:20] Instead, Punch was out socializing, playing with other monkeys, and even being groomed. [10:27] He still clings to his caretakers during their twice-daily feedings. [10:31] But the rumor mill went rampant that the soon-to-be nine-month-old might be dating. [10:36] And the big news is that Punch has a girlfriend? [10:38] I don't know if it's a girlfriend or not. [10:42] But I think that the number of monkeys that Punch is getting along with is increasing day [10:46] by day. [10:47] He's still a couple years away from adolescence and gets into skirmishes here and there. [10:51] But zoo officials say there is no need for concern. [10:59] Whenever there are videos of Punch being disciplined by other monkeys, the zoo receives a lot of [11:03] phone calls and emails from all over the world. [11:06] That kind of situation might come up sometimes. [11:08] But overall, we're in a good place as a group right now. [11:12] The suburban zoo's mission? [11:13] To teach local school kids and others about the smaller end of the animal kingdom, from [11:19] lemurs to prairie dogs to capybaras. [11:22] Monkeys, especially snow monkeys, have long been revered in Japanese culture. [11:27] They really are incredibly adorable. [11:31] And here in Japan, they have been depicted in paintings since ancient times. [11:36] While all the focus now centers around Monkey Mountain, zoo officials hope all their animals [11:41] are equally cherished. [11:43] Thanks to the donations, the zoo's planning to build more shade to keep the monkeys cool, [11:48] to prevent other mothers from having a traumatic birth. [11:51] His mom initially abandoned him. [11:54] Do they interact now? [11:58] His mother actually lives right here at Monkey Mountain. [12:00] But do they interact? [12:03] Does she ever act maternally towards him? [12:07] Well, at the time of his birth, she seemed to care about Punch. [12:11] At this point in time, it's likely that she has no awareness that he is her own child. [12:16] They have no special bond as mother and child. [12:22] Punch instead thriving on his relationships with his new friends and chosen family, blissfully [12:28] unaware of his internet stardom and how one monkey suffering united a multitude of humans. [12:35] Now he's okay. [12:36] He's not being bullied as much. [12:38] Yeah. [12:39] How does that make you feel? [12:41] It's great because it's like the same way with me because I was a difficult childhood and now I feel enough good in... [12:52] In socializing. [12:53] Yeah. [12:54] Yeah. [12:54] So you overcame it. [12:56] Yeah. [12:57] And so you're cheering for Punch. [12:58] Yeah. [12:59] I know some of our kids hear mean things and they attach on to love and comfort and I think that's why he's so viral and touching for everyone and it's really cool to see. [13:14] And don't worry, we'll continue to keep an eye on Punch's adventures. [13:17] When we come back, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Levitt leaves the drama. [13:23] It's going to be chaos. [13:24] For The Great White Way, teaming up with her Dancing with the Stars partner Mark Ballas, what happened when she flubbed her lines in front of a live audience? [13:32] I couldn't remember my next line so I was like... [13:34] Welcome back. [13:41] Whitney Levitt and Mark Ballas are back. [13:44] The Dancing with the Stars couple that fans love and love to hate, now starring together in Chicago on Broadway to packed houses. [13:52] ABC's Will Ganz caught up with the dancing duo and got the tea on their live theater vibe and whether Whitney will return to the Mormon Wives. [14:01] Happens in the ballroom, doesn't always stay there. [14:09] Whitney Levitt reuniting with Mark Ballas on Broadway. [14:18] If someone would have said a year ago that the two of you would be on the cover of the playbill for Chicago on Broadway, what would your reaction have been? [14:29] I probably would have been like, you're crazy. [14:32] What? [14:33] Yeah. [14:34] How? [14:35] Well, I mean, yeah, I'm speechless. [14:37] The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star swapping all that drama. [14:40] It's going to be chaos. [14:42] All that jazz. [14:45] Who is more dramatic, literal Broadway stars or mom talk? [14:50] Mom talk 1000%. [14:51] Do you see what's going on in the world right now? [14:54] And leading Chicago to its highest grossing week in the show's 30-year history, playing Roxy Hart. [15:00] She's very sassy. [15:02] I'd say sassy, impulsive, and always just like learning. [15:07] What do you and Roxy have in common? [15:09] Every single one of those things. [15:12] And now her dancing partner Mark Ballas is joining her in Chicago as Billy Flynn, following in the footsteps of Patrick Swayze and Usher. [15:19] Three, two, one. [15:23] Wow. [15:25] Just so, so many. [15:26] So many. [15:27] I'm, I'm a, it's a wild moment. [15:29] A dream that began for these two this past season on Dancing with the Stars. [15:33] Explain something to me. [15:35] When you performed the Cell Block Tango, was that an Easter egg? [15:39] Was it an audition? [15:41] We had to choose a piece or a song that had been done before on the show, and that was the one that was available. [15:48] I just think during the rehearsals, I was like, you're gonna, you're gonna play this role at some point. [15:54] I just like could feel it, you know. [15:56] And now. [15:57] Here we are. [15:58] Here we are. [15:59] Fans flocking to New York City's Ambassador Theater to see Whitney and Mark once again in sync and in costume. [16:05] It was made by our Dancing with the Stars, Taylor, and, um, when I came out for a fitting, the, the, uh, suit they tried on, I was like, I have this exact suit. [16:17] This is Derek and I's Tango jacket, so I've just been wearing that exact suit for Billy. [16:22] Have you had any of those live theater moments yet? [16:24] Has anything gone slightly askew? [16:26] Oh, multiple times, 1000%. [16:28] You know, when I sing, there's also bits where I say something, and I had just sung and I was like, I couldn't remember my next line, so I was like, I'm a star. [16:38] You then have to figure it out, because it's live, you just, you gotta roll with it. [16:42] Well, if ever I forget what I'm about to say on GMA, I'm just gonna say, I'm a star. [16:48] Whitney's star continuing to rise, both on Broadway and on MormonWise. [16:53] What does your future on that show look like? [16:56] We're figuring it out in real time, I don't really know, I, I feel, I feel sometimes that it's, like, time to venture out, like, this is what I'm passionate about. [17:07] And speaking of star turns. [17:09] One, two, three, right foot, and, hey, there you go. [17:15] I love the smile. [17:17] How could I not? I'm living my dream. [17:20] One of many dreams coming true on Broadway this season. [17:24] What is your hope for people who come to see the two of you in this show together? [17:27] Um, people get very passionate about these reality game shows, they're like, you should've won, you, you and Mark did it. [17:35] But we won in different ways. [17:38] Our thanks to Will. [17:40] When we come back, why did the All About That Bass singer Meghan Trainor abruptly canceled her tour less than two months before its kickoff? [17:48] And finally tonight, Meghan Trainor pumps the brakes. [18:01] The mom of three and singer of big hits like All About That Bass. [18:06] Because you know I'm all about that bass, about that bass, no trouble. [18:10] Canceling her summer tour less than two months before its kickoff. [18:14] Trainor posting on Instagram that the pressures of a new baby, new album, and big tour have understandably overwhelmed her. [18:22] Writing it has, quote, just been more than I can take on right now. [18:26] She apologized for disappointing fans, promising, I'll be back soon. [18:30] Of course, we wish her well. [18:32] That's Nightline. [18:33] You can watch all of our full episodes on Disney Plus and Hulu. [18:36] We'll see you right back here Monday, same time. [18:38] Thanks for staying up with us. [18:39] Good night, America. [18:40] Have a great weekend.