LOS ANGELES — Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died Sunday at a rehabilitation facility, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. The cause of death has not been released.
Gerber, who followed his mother into modeling, was signed with IMG Models at 15. He went on to work with major fashion brands, including Calvin Klein, Celine, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Bottega Veneta, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren. He also appeared alongside his mother in a Pepsi commercial during Super Bowl LII in 2018.
Gerber had been open about his struggles with mental health and addiction. After being charged with DUI in 2019, he spoke publicly about seeking treatment. He also created a series of videos called “Mental Health Mondays,” using his platform to talk about mental health and encourage others to be more open about their struggles.
Just weeks before his death, Gerber’s younger sister, model and actress Kaia Gerber, spoke about her brother’s struggles with addiction and the impact they had on their family in a Vogue interview.
“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” Kaia said. “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.”
She also described her brother’s openness about his struggles as refreshing, saying he had become an example of someone willing to be vulnerable about what he was experiencing.
“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.’ There’s only so much you can hide from the world,” Kaia said. “And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them.”
According to several media outlets, Gerber also shared a now-deleted video on Instagram in December discussing his use of prescription medications, including antidepressants and Xanax for panic attacks. “Unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of loss in many different forms recently,” he said in the video. “So that is not an excuse, but it’s the reason why I’m where I’m at now.”
Gerber’s family confirmed his death to several media outlets through a representative and asked for privacy during what they described as “this very difficult and painful time.”
The cause and manner of death have not been released.
