Cindy Crawford and her family have stated that they are "heartbroken" following the death of her son, Presley Gerber. Presley Gerber died on 20 September at a rehabilitation centre in California, aged 27. Police said his death is being investigated as a suspected overdose, while the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner noted that the case remains open for further investigation. The Santa Monica Police Department stated there is no indication of a criminal offence in the death.
Crawford spoke out on Instagram alongside a black-and-white photograph of her son. "We feel so blessed to have had Presley in our lives for 27 years," she wrote. "Until we meet again, our sweet boy. We love you forever, mama, dad and Kaia." The post also included his dates of birth and death. Crawford and her husband, Rande Gerber, also issued a joint emotional statement on Instagram on Sunday, noting they were "heartbroken by the loss of our beloved son and brother," signed "with love forever" by Cindy and Rande Gerber and their daughter, Kaia Gerber.
Gerber was a model, like his mother and younger sister Kaia. He began his career very early — IMG Models signed him when he was 15, and he made his runway debut for Italian label Moschino at just 16. He worked for brands such as Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana and Bottega Veneta. In recent years, he spoke openly about his struggles with mental health and addiction, frequently posting videos on Instagram that he called "Mental Health Mondays". His father, Rande Gerber, is a well-known entrepreneur who co-founded the tequila brand Casamigos with George Clooney. The cause of death has not been released.
His sister, Kaia Gerber, also a model, dedicated a post to him on Sunday. Alongside a series of childhood photos and videos — including a clip of the two of them dancing as children and a photograph of them standing by the ocean — she shared a four-page letter addressed to "Prez", typed on a blue background. In the letter, she wrote that she had been afraid to get her ears pierced, so "you went first". "But when I held the earring that was taken from your body, I could only think: this belongs to you," she wrote. "I am learning how to love you when I cannot see you. How to tell you something without picking up the phone and calling you. How to be your sister in a world where I cannot reach for you."
In the letter, she stated there is "no answer" and that she cannot express the "magnitude" of losing her brother. "You know how much I loved being your sister. It has always been, and will always be, my favourite thing about myself," she wrote. She described him as someone who was "good at heart" and her "greatest teacher". "My best friend, my big protector, I laughed the most with you and you are the only true love of my life. You lit all my candles and chased away all my scary things, and I love you," the letter read. The post was accompanied by the song First I Was by Jake Minch, which Kaia described as "the last thing we talked about".
Among those who reacted to the post were actors Taylor Lautner and Patrick Schwarzenegger, singer Suki Waterhouse and Paris Hilton. "My heart is breaking for you and your family. Presley was truly one of a kind and I feel so lucky to have known him. I will always remember him with so much love," Hilton wrote.
