Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham Seen Amidst Friend's Death Investigation
The couple appeared somber in Los Angeles following the death of their close friend Presley Gerber, whose passing is under investigation.
Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham were photographed in Los Angeles on Sunday, marking their first public appearance since the death of their close friend, Presley Gerber. The couple were among the first to pay tribute to Gerber on social media following his death at age 27, attributed to a suspected overdose.
Beckham shared a photo of himself and Gerber, writing, "I am so heartbroken. Presley you were the kindest and we are going to miss you so much x we love you." Peltz echoed the sentiment, stating, "I am truly devastated. Presley was pure light in this world, he had the kindest heart. I feel so lucky to have had him in my life." She added, "I will never forget his kindness and how he always showed up for his friends. My deepest condolences go out to his family. We miss you and we love you so much Presley, we're heartbroken."
The couple appeared solemn during their outing at Brentwood Country Mart, accompanied by actress Colleen Camp. Peltz and Camp share a connection through the legacy of actress Dorothy Stratten.
Presley Gerber's parents, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, were seen leaving their son's home on Monday, the day after his death at a rehab facility in Santa Monica, California. According to a death certificate obtained by TMZ, Gerber has been cremated. His occupation was listed as an entrepreneur who worked in mental health.
An autopsy has been completed, but the official cause of death is pending the results of toxicology tests. Sources close to the investigation indicated that Gerber was found in a bedroom at the rehab facility on September 20, having checked in the night before. He was reportedly found dead after experiencing cardiac arrest.
Reports from TMZ suggest Gerber's body was found near a bed, not on it, though the exact location within the room was not specified. Fentanyl has not been a focus of the investigation at this stage.
Audio of the 911 dispatch call from the rehab facility, obtained by the Daily Mail, indicated a call for "cardiac arrest" that was later upgraded to "overdose" within minutes. Shortly after the audio's release, sources told TMZ that a physician had prescribed Gerber ketamine, despite knowing his history with the drug. While ketamine has approved uses for drug addiction treatment, friends are reportedly upset about its prescription to Gerber.
Gerber had been open about his decade-long struggle with drug addiction and mental health issues. In March, he posted about undergoing treatment with ibogaine, a substance used to help with withdrawal symptoms. His parents and sister, Kaia Gerber, had praised his courage in seeking treatment.
Last November, Presley Gerber announced a break from social media to focus on his mental health and later shared videos about his "Mental Health Mondays," detailing medications for night terrors and panic attacks.
Presley Gerber, whose modeling career began at age 15, was featured in campaigns for brands like Dolce & Gabbana and Calvin Klein. He was also arrested for driving under the influence in 2019.
His death follows his sister Kaia's comments to Vogue about the significant impact his struggles had on their family, stating that such events "level everyone."