George Clooney Reflects on Marriage to Amal and Devastating Loss of Presley Gerber
The actor shared his gratitude for his wife while also speaking for the first time about the death of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber's son.
George Clooney expressed profound appreciation for his wife, Amal Clooney, describing himself as "very lucky" to have found her. The sentiment was shared at The Albies event, hosted by The Clooney Foundation for Justice at London's Natural History Museum.
Clooney, 65, spoke about the longevity of their relationship, joking that his wife's presence is the key. Amal, 48, added that choosing an "incredible person" makes everything else fall into place. The couple, who met in 2013 and married a year later, are parents to nine-year-old twins Ella and Alexander. They recently celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary on September 27.
During the event, Clooney also broke his silence on the recent death of Presley Gerber, son of Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford. Presley died on September 20 at a sober-living facility in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 27. "Quite honestly, it's one of the most devastating things that's happened to our family, and their family is just as you can imagine," Clooney told Entertainment Tonight. He added that discussing plans to honor Presley's legacy was not something they were yet in a position to do.
Clooney, a close family friend and former business partner of Rande Gerber, had known Presley since his birth. He had been a mentor and offered guidance, particularly after Presley's 2018 DUI. Clooney, Gerber, and Michael Feldman founded Casamigos Tequila in 2013, selling the company for $1 billion in 2017.
Following Presley's death, Clooney and Amal rushed to be with the Gerber family in Los Angeles, offering support and assisting with arrangements. Sources indicated that they and other close friends were taking shifts to ensure the family was not alone during their grief.
Presley, whose occupation was listed as an entrepreneur working in mental health, was cremated. His parents reportedly plan to keep his ashes at their Malibu home. While an autopsy has been completed, the official cause of death is pending toxicology results.
Reports suggest Presley was found in a bedroom at the rehab facility on September 20, having checked in the night before. He reportedly experienced cardiac arrest. Investigations have not focused on fentanyl at this time, but final confirmation awaits the Medical Examiner's report. Audio from the 911 dispatch call revealed a rapid escalation from 'cardiac arrest' to 'overdose' within minutes. Sources close to Gerber indicated a physician had prescribed him ketamine, despite his known struggles with the drug, raising concerns among his friends.
Presley had been open on social media about his struggles with drugs, panic attacks, and mental health over the years. The family is reportedly planning an intimate memorial service in Malibu, honoring his love for the beach and surfing.