Cindy Crawford, husband Rande Gerber and daughter Kaia Gerber are mourning the death of the late Presley Gerber.
“My life, my world, my heart. A moment that will live in me forever ❤️ ,” Rande, 64, wrote via his Instagram Stories on Sunday, October 18, reposting Kaia’s own social media tribute to her sibling.
Rande and Crawford, 60, as well as their daughter, 25, broke their silence earlier on Sunday after Presley’s death.
“Prez, I don’t have the words, and maybe the tiny mercy is that we didn’t need them all along,” Kaia wrote in part. “Words fail and words subtract and words summarize and words always lack truth. And how naive of me to believe that language could transcend grief. I’ve read all of the books and I have none of the answers. My articulation is no match against this, the magnitude of losing you. I am, quite literally, down on my f***ing knees.”
Rande and Crawford, for their part, released a joint statement about Presley’s death.
“We are beyond heartbroken to lose our beloved son and brother. We feel so blessed to have had Presley in our lives for 27 years. He is a sweet, beautiful soul who loved and is loved, now and forever,” they wrote. “We are so proud of how he showed up in the world, with kindness and vulnerability. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from so many who know and love our family and even strangers who feel our pain. Til we meet again our sweet boy. We love you forever.”
Us confirmed on September 20 that Presley died in a rehab facility, per medical examiner records. He was 27.
“The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” a rep for Crawford and Gerber said in a statement.
One day after his death, an autopsy was completed, but the cause of his death was “deferred” for the time being. Local police have investigated the incident as a possible overdose.
“The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has identified the individual as Presley Gerber, 27,” the Santa Monica Police Department told Us statement. “SMPD detectives are investigating the death as a suspected overdose. At this time, there is no indication of foul play. The official cause and manner of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.”
Presley had been candid about his substance abuse and mental health struggles ahead of his sudden death.
“Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that, I think that whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place I was in at one point in my life, that’s all I need to do,” he said on the “Studio 22” podcast in 2023. “It’s a huge part of my life. It’s a 24/7 job and there’s so much to it.”
He continued at the time, “That’s what I really want to do — help people get out of whether you’re depressed [or] struggling with something that’s having a negative effect on your body. … What I hope I can do is have made the mistakes for some other people, so they don’t have to make the same mistakes that I made.”
Presley’s battle with addiction had also taken a toll on his family.
“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” Kaia told Vogue in a profile published one month before her brother’s death. “I think that’s also why I started to self-identify as the ‘easy one’ and never wanted to ask for help because it felt like too much to have two children who were needing.”
Kaia further praised Presley for opening up about his struggles via social media.
“My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn’t share anything — and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, ‘I’m gonna be very human for everyone.’” she added to the magazine. “There’s only so much you can hide from the world,” she reflected. “And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
