In brief
Cindy Crawford has announced that her son Presley Gerber, 27, passed away in September in a California rehabilitation centre. The fashion icon posted a moving tribute on Instagram, praising his kindness and vulnerability. Police suspect an overdose and investigations are underway. The family, including model sister Kaia and father Rande, mourn and thank supporters. The tragedy highlights ongoing mental health struggles faced by the Gerber family.
Supermodel Cindy Crawford has said she and her family are beyond heartbroken after the death of her son Presley Gerber, who was 27. She posted a touching tribute on Instagram, describing him as a sweet, beautiful soul who loved and was loved, now and forever. The photo she shared was a black‑and‑white portrait of Presley, and her message highlighted how he showed up in the world with kindness and vulnerability.
Presley died on 20 September at a rehab facility in California. Police are investigating the death as a suspected overdose, and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has marked the case as pending additional investigation. Santa Monica police state there is no indication of foul play.
Like his mother and younger sister Kaia, Presley had a modelling career. He made his catwalk debut for Italian label Moschino at the age of 16 and was active on social media, posting videos under the theme Mental Health Mondays to discuss his own struggles with mental health and drug use.
In her post, Crawford wrote that the family feels blessed to have had Presley in their lives for 27 years and thanked everyone who expressed love and support. She signed off with a note that “Til we meet again our sweet boy. We love you forever, Mom, Dad and Kaia.” and included an angel‑wings emoji.
Presley’s sister Kaia followed with her own tribute, sharing childhood photos and a handwritten letter to her brother. She reflected on shared memories and how learning to love him from a distance became a new reality for the family.
The Gerber family has publicly spoken about Presley’s mental health challenges, and the media coverage now highlights the ongoing issue of opioid and substance‑related tragedies among young people in the entertainment industry.
If you are affected by the issues described, details of support organisations are available via the BBC Action Line and Befrienders Worldwide, which offer help in many countries.
