LOS ANGELES, CA. (THECOUNT) — Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old model and son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, has died, according to a family representative and records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Gerber died Sunday, September 20, at a rehabilitation facility, according to the medical examiner’s records. His cause of death had not been released, and further details surrounding the circumstances remained unavailable.
Advertisement
“The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” a representative for the family said in a statement.
Gerber was the older brother of model and actress Kaia Gerber. His parents, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, married in 1998 and have two children.
The death of Gerber, who followed his mother into the modeling industry, was reported by multiple news organizations Monday. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner had not yet released a confirmed cause of death or completed all investigative findings.
Gerber worked with major fashion brands during his modeling career, including Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana. He also appeared alongside his mother in a 2018 recreation of her iconic 1992 Pepsi commercial during Super Bowl LII.
At the time, Gerber was 18 years old. The appearance placed him alongside Crawford in a campaign that revisited one of the best-known commercials from her modeling career.
Gerber and his sister both pursued careers in fashion, but Kaia has previously discussed the importance of their mother allowing them to establish their own professional identities.
“She has never lived vicariously through us,” Kaia said during a family interview with TODAY.
Gerber had also spoken publicly about his struggles with mental health and addiction. Through his social media accounts, he created a series called “Mental Health Mondays,” where he discussed personal challenges and encouraged open conversations about subjects people often keep private.
In one post, Gerber said he hoped the project would “spark real conversations about the stuff most people hide.”
He also wrote about taking time away to focus on his mental health, saying he had needed to step back and take care of himself.
His openness about those struggles was later discussed by his sister in an interview with Vogue. Kaia described her brother as someone who was willing to be vulnerable in public and said his willingness to speak openly had affected the family.
“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,’” Kaia said.
She added that attempting to conceal difficult circumstances can make a person feel ashamed, while emphasizing the importance of allowing people to be open about their experiences.
In July, Crawford marked her son’s 27th birthday by sharing childhood and teenage photographs of Gerber on social media.
“I’m so proud of the man you’ve become, but I’ll always see you as my little boy! Love you,” Crawford wrote.
The family’s statement did not provide additional information about Gerber’s death. The medical examiner’s investigation remains relevant to determining the official cause and manner of death, which had not been announced in the initial reports.
Gerber’s death has prompted attention to his modeling career, his family’s public profile and his previous efforts to discuss mental health and addiction openly. The family has asked for privacy as they grieve.
Los Angeles, the seat of Los Angeles County, is the largest city in California and the center of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan region. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner handles death investigations within its jurisdiction, including cases requiring examination to establish cause and manner of death.
Google Maps: Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Los Angeles, California
If you or someone you know is struggling or in emotional distress, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For additional resources, visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
DEVELOPING::