Key Highlights
- Presley Gerber, 27, son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, died Sunday at a rehabilitation facility; the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner is investigating a suspected overdose.
- Ex-girlfriend Charlotte D’Alessio posted emotional tributes on Instagram, expressing anger and grief, while Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and Paris Hilton also shared public condolences.
- Gerber had spoken publicly about his battles with depression and substance abuse, and sister Kaia Gerber recently detailed the family’s decade-long struggle with his addiction in Vogue.
Model Presley Gerber Dies at 27; Medical Examiner Investigates Suspected Overdose
Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old model and son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, passed away on Sunday, September 20, at a rehabilitation facility in Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner (DME), the cause of death is being investigated as a suspected overdose. A source told The Sun that officers at the scene attempted life-saving measures before Gerber was pronounced dead, and no foul play is suspected.
Charlotte D’Alessio Leads Tributes from Former Partner and Celebrity Friends
Charlotte D’Alessio, a 28-year-old Canadian model who dated Gerber for approximately two years beginning in 2018, shared a series of emotional posts to her Instagram Stories over the weekend. D’Alessio posted a video of Gerber running along the water with a small dog, captioning it as the way she “will always remember him.” In a subsequent image showing the pair looking into each other’s eyes in bathing suits, she wrote: “Shared a pure love with you & for that I thank & honour your life. You deserved more time. You deserved more life. Very angry ab this.” On a black-and-white photo of the two embracing, she added: “Love u Pres. Always. Up there, down here. don’t ever doubt that. We all love you so much. I hope you can feel it.”
Brooklyn Peltz Beckham also took to Instagram Stories, writing: “Presley you were the kindest and we are going to miss you so much. We love you.” Paris Hilton remembered Gerber as a “beautiful soul” in her own tribute, stating: “I’m completely heartbroken. I still can’t believe this is real. I cared about you so much and I’m going to miss you more than words can say. I’ll always cherish the memories we shared – the laughs, the conversations and just being around you. You had such a gentle heart and there was something so special about you that anyone who was lucky enough to know you could feel. I hope you knew how deeply loved you were and how many people cared about you. My heart is with your entire family during this unimaginable time. Rest in peace, my friend. Love you forever.”
Gerber’s Public Advocacy for Mental Health and Sobriety
Gerber had been open about his struggles with depression and substance abuse in recent years. Speaking on the podcast Studio 22 in 2023, he said: “Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that, I think that whether I help one person or 100 people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that’s all I need to do. (Mental health) is an issue. It is such a big part of my life. It’s a 24/7 job and there’s so much to it. That’s really what I want to do: help people, whether you’re depressed, you’re struggling with something that is having a negative effect on your body. I mean it could be anything, and there’s no judgment.”
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Sister Kaia Gerber Details Family’s Decade-Long Struggle
The depth of the family’s experience was further illuminated by Presley’s younger sister, model and actress Kaia Gerber, in the September 2026 issue of Vogue. Kaia spoke candidly about her brother’s “decade-long struggle with drug addiction” and its impact on the family dynamic. She said: “When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone. 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. 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. And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them.”
Why This Matters
The death of Presley Gerber underscores the ongoing crisis of substance abuse and mental health challenges among young adults, even those with access to significant resources and support systems. His public willingness to discuss his struggles — and his family’s subsequent openness, particularly Kaia Gerber’s recent Vogue interview — reflects a shifting cultural conversation that destigmatizes addiction and treats it as a chronic health condition rather than a moral failing. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s ongoing investigation will determine the official cause and manner of death, which may provide further insight into the circumstances surrounding his passing at a treatment facility. The outpouring of grief from high-profile figures across fashion and entertainment highlights the personal impact of a young man who sought to use his platform to help others facing similar battles.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How old was Presley Gerber when he died?
- Presley Gerber was 27 years old at the time of his death on Sunday, September 20.
- What was the reported cause of death?
- The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner is investigating his death as a suspected overdose. No foul play is suspected, and officers reportedly attempted life-saving measures at the rehabilitation facility where he was staying.
- Had Presley Gerber spoken publicly about his struggles before his death?
- Yes. In a 2023 appearance on the Studio 22 podcast, Gerber discussed his battles with depression and substance abuse, stating that helping others escape similar darkness was his primary goal. His sister Kaia Gerber also detailed his “decade-long struggle with drug addiction” in a September 2026 Vogue interview.
