Supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber are mourning the death of their only son, model and mental-health advocate Presley Gerber, who died Sunday at age 27.
A representative for Crawford, Rande and their daughter, Kaia Gerber, confirmed the death in a statement provided to People.
“The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” the representative said.
Records from the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner show that Presley died Sept. 20 at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica. Responding paramedics pronounced him dead at 9:45 a.m.
An autopsy was performed Monday, but the official cause and manner of death were deferred while the medical examiner awaits additional testing or studies. The department said a final determination could take several months.
The Santa Monica Police Department is investigating the death. Emergency dispatch records referenced a suspected overdose and cardiac arrest, but those preliminary call classifications do not establish an official cause of death.
Presley’s passing follows several recent losses in the entertainment world. Resist the Mainstream previously reported on the death of country music icon Dolly Parton and covered the passing of veteran singer and television personality Jaye P. Morgan.
Presley was the eldest child of Crawford and Rande and the older brother of Kaia, a model and actress. The family had occasionally worked together in fashion campaigns while otherwise guarding much of its private life.
Following in his mother’s footsteps, Presley signed with IMG Models at 15 and made his runway debut for Moschino the following year.
His career quickly expanded to appearances for major fashion houses and brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Burberry and Celine. He also appeared beside Crawford in Pepsi’s 2018 Super Bowl commercial.
Outside fashion, Presley became increasingly candid about his experiences with depression, panic attacks, addiction and treatment.
He used social media to establish a series called “Mental Health Mondays,” which he said was intended to encourage honest conversations about subjects people often conceal.
During a 2023 appearance on the “Studio 22” podcast, Presley explained that helping even one person escape the kind of emotional place he had experienced would be enough for him.
He also posted videos discussing recovery, medication and his efforts to rebuild healthy routines. Some of those posts were later deleted, but they were reported by People and other outlets before his death.
Kaia addressed her brother’s struggles during an August interview with Vogue, which described his battle with drug addiction as lasting approximately a decade.
“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” she told the magazine.
Kaia said the circumstances contributed to her viewing herself as the family’s “easy” child, making her reluctant to ask their parents for help when Presley was already struggling.
She also praised her brother’s willingness to speak openly, describing him as a “teacher” who showed the family the importance of acknowledging difficult experiences instead of hiding them.
Presley is survived by Crawford, Rande and Kaia. No funeral or memorial arrangements had been publicly announced as of Monday.
Authorities have not publicly announced evidence of foul play or officially attributed the death to an overdose, suicide or any other specific cause.
For now, the investigation remains active, the medical findings remain pending and the Gerber family is asking the public to respect its privacy while it mourns.
