Cindy Crawford's son, Presley Gerber dies at 27
Presley Gerber built his trajectory in fashion and transformed his personal difficulties in an effort to expand the dialogue about mental health and chemical dependency.
Model Presley Gerber, son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died this Sunday, September 20, at the age of 27.
The death was confirmed by a family representative. According to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office, Presley was in a rehab facility in California when he died.
At the time of publication of this report, the cause of death had not been disclosed. An autopsy was still pending. Therefore, there is no official confirmation of overdose, suicide or any other specific circumstance. Associated Press, People.
Family asks for privacy
In a brief statement sent to the press, the representative of Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber and Kaia Gerber informed that the family asks for privacy during this "very difficult and painful" time.
Presley was the eldest child and only son of Cindy and Rande, who have been married since 1998. He is survived by his parents and younger sister, model and actress Kaia Gerber.
A trajectory that began as a teenager
Born in Beverly Hills, California, in 1999, Presley began working as a model at the age of 15, when he signed a contract with IMG Models.
His debut on the catwalks took place in 2016, at a Moschino fashion show in Los Angeles. Later, he walked for brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry and Bottega Veneta, in addition to participating in a Calvin Klein campaign.
In 2018, Presley appeared alongside his mother in a Pepsi campaign presented during the Super Bowl, recreating elements of the commercial history starring Cindy Crawford in 1992. Folha de S.Paulo, People.
Mental health and chemical dependency
In recent years, Presley has started to talk openly about depression, panic attacks, mental health, and substance use. In an interview with the Studio 22 podcast, in 2023, he said that he wanted to turn his own mistakes and learnings into a way to help others.
The model also created the series "Mental Health Mondays" on social media, in which he encouraged honest conversations about recovery, vulnerability, and the importance of seeking help.
Presley did not hide that his recovery was a difficult process. In one of his last publications, he showed part of an addiction treatment and talked about the hope of not having to face that situation again. People.
Last public appearance was with his parents
Presley's last known public appearance took place on June 11, during an event held in Malibu in support of mental health.
Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber accompanied their son on the occasion. Presley participated in a conversation about his own journey and spoke of the freedom he found when he started to be honest with himself.
During the meeting, he also encouraged people to move their bodies, sunbathe and seek contact with nature on the most difficult days. People.
Tributes
After the death was confirmed, friends and admirers paid tribute on social media. Paris Hilton, a friend of the family, described Presley as a sweet, sensitive, kind person with a special heart.
While the medical investigation continues, the family tries to grieve away from public exposure. Presley's early death also draws attention to a struggle that he himself made a point of not hiding: challenges related to mental health and addiction can affect anyone, regardless of fame or financial condition.
In this moment of so much pain, respect for the family and the memory of a young man who tried to transform his own difficulties into shelter for those who also needed help remain.