The news that came out on Sunday was especially cruel. Presley Gerber, who was 27 years old, the son of one of the most famous figures in fashion history, and a young man who had been publicly discussing his desire to recover for the past few years, passed away at the very location where he had sought healing. A Los Angeles rehab center. It was verified by the records of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. It was reported as a suspected overdose by the Santa Monica Police Department.
He had entered the area in an attempt to survive. You find it difficult to forget that detail.
Presley was born in 1999 and grew up in the long, albeit possibly uncomfortable, shadow of Cindy Crawford’s international renown. At sixteen, he started modeling and made his runway debut for Moschino. A path like that—famous mother, attractive appearance, early career—is almost expected. However, Presley was battling something much less picturesque behind what seemed to be a happy life. depression. Substance abuse. Things that eventually make their way into everything else but don’t make it to the campaign shoot.
The signs had changed by the time he was in his early twenties. A December 2019 DUI. The word “MISUNDERSTOOD” was inked beneath his eye in a 2020 facial tattoo that he seemed to have later taken off. It’s possible that the young man’s tattoo was an attempt to express an inner experience that his outward life was constantly hiding. Visible suffering is not intended for models. That is a portion of the issue.
Looking back, it’s remarkable how open Presley eventually became to discussing everything. He said something that stuck when he appeared on the Studio 22 podcast in 2023: “Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that, I think that whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that’s all I need to do.” That sentence is not from a press release. That person has given this some thought at two in the morning.
Speaking in this month’s American Vogue, his sister Kaia revealed the extent of the family’s burdens. She characterized Presley as a sort of “absolute teacher” because of his public candor about addiction, which compelled an openness that their otherwise private family had never exhibited. “Trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them,” she replied. That observation contains both genuine love and genuine pain.
Presley had posted from inside a rehab center six months before his passing, recording prayer rituals and what appeared to be sincere participation in the process. He presented an image of someone leaning in and not giving up, but it’s still unclear exactly what treatment modalities were being used (reports mention a facility that worked with psychedelics). This makes it more difficult, not easier, to comprehend Sunday’s news.
The inquiry is still in progress. An autopsy is still pending. The family has requested privacy through a representative. Right now, it seems like the least anyone can do for them.
In 2018, Presley starred alongside his mother in a Pepsi Super Bowl commercial, 26 years after Cindy had first appeared in one herself. He also walked for Ralph Lauren, modeled for Burberry, and appeared in campaigns for Calvin Klein alongside his sister. These are the lines from a resume. However, they fall short of explaining the individual. That quote from the podcast explains the individual. The tattoo on the face. He acknowledged that he had been in a dark place and that he had a strong desire to assist others in escaping.
He was 27 years old. Just four months ago, the family was pictured together at a launch event in Los Angeles, with all four of them grinning. It’s difficult to look at that picture now without feeling the unique weight of what follows such a moment: the typical joy of a May evening that no one realized was one of the last.
FAQs
1. How did Presley Gerber die?
He died at a Los Angeles rehab facility in a suspected overdose.
2. How old was Presley Gerber when he died?
He was 27 years old.
3. Who are Presley Gerber’s parents?
Supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber.
4. Was Presley Gerber open about his addiction struggles?
Yes, he spoke publicly about depression and substance abuse on a podcast.
5. What was Presley Gerber’s profession?
He was a model who worked with Burberry, Calvin Klein, and Dolce & Gabbana.