Who Is David Del Rio and Why Is He Trending?
David Del Rio is an American actor who most recently gained attention for playing ambitious young attorney Billy Martinez on CBS’s reboot of the classic legal drama Matlock.[1] Before the current controversy, he was best known as part of the show’s core ensemble and as one of the fresh faces meant to help reintroduce the franchise to a new generation of viewers.
He is now trending globally because he was fired from Matlock in October after co-star Leah Lewis accused him of sexual assault on Paramount property, triggering an internal investigation by CBS Studios.[1][3] The case has re-entered the news cycle as CBS has reopened that investigation, drawing renewed focus to Del Rio’s career, the show, and how the industry handles such allegations.[1][3]
The Allegations and CBS’s Reopened Investigation
Reports from entertainment outlets state that Lewis reported an alleged sexual assault involving Del Rio that she said occurred in late September, with the complaint formally lodged in early October.[1][3] In response, CBS launched an internal investigation and swiftly removed Del Rio from the series, escorting him off the Paramount lot and confirming that his character would be written out of future episodes.[1][3]
In December, multiple outlets reported that CBS had quietly reopened its internal probe, conducting new interviews with additional parties and re-interviewing Del Rio with his attorney, Shawn Holley, present.[1][3] The studio has declined to discuss specifics, citing a policy of not commenting on legal matters, and sources describe the renewed investigation as ongoing rather than resolved.[1][3]
Impact on Matlock, the Cast, and Hollywood
Production on Matlock paused for a pre-scheduled hiatus after Del Rio’s firing but has since resumed, with scripts adjusted to remove his character from the story.[1][2][3] New cast members have been added, and reports say Billy will not be recast; instead, the show will explain his absence off screen, allowing the series to move forward without directly depicting the real-life controversy.[1][2]
The case has affected both Del Rio and Lewis beyond the set, drawing strong public reactions and sparking conversations about workplace safety, power dynamics, and due process in the entertainment industry.[1][3] As CBS’s reopened investigation proceeds, it may influence not only Del Rio’s future roles but also how studios design and communicate internal procedures for handling serious misconduct allegations on high-profile productions.