Presley Gerber's Poignant Tribute to Father Rande Gerber Revealed After His Death

Presley Gerber, the model son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, died at age 27 following a protracted struggle with mental health challenges, including drug use and panic attacks. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed his death occurred on Sunday at a rehabilitation facility.

Four months before his passing, Presley shared a touching tribute to his father on Instagram, detailing the profound support he received during his most difficult periods. In the post, accompanied by a photo of the two paddleboarding, Presley wrote, "I have the best father in the world. He's never given up on me. He's always there for me. Always has the best advice for me. I appreciate this man more than words can explain. I love you pops."

Rande Gerber responded to his son's post in the comments, expressing his honor in sharing life's journey with Presley and emphasizing their ability to overcome challenges together. Presley's mother, Cindy Crawford, also offered her support with a simple "My boys!"

Presley later removed the post, having previously explained his tendency to step back from social media or delete content to focus on his well-being. He had also previously shared heartfelt dedications to his mother and engaged in candid discussions about his mental health battles.

In a March 26, 2026, post, Presley shared a video of himself participating in a "Pre Ibogaine Flood Dose," a process involving a single, high-dose administration of ibogaine, a psychoactive compound used in some addiction clinics to induce a psychoactive and physiological reset. Ibogaine is a Schedule I controlled substance in the U.S. but is legal or permitted by prescription in other countries.

Presley captioned the video, "Quiet moment before everything changed. i was absolutely terrified, and I knew I would be again if I ever had to face something like this... letting go of control didn’t come easy, but I trusted there was something bigger than me guiding it." He added, "I knew why i was there. I faced what I had been running from, and somewhere in all of it, i started finding my way back to myself… Praying it’s the last time I have to come back."

His family offered strong support in the comments. Cindy called him a "warrior," Kaia declared, "that’s my brother I am so damn proud," and Rande expressed his pride in Presley's courage. Presley had also attended a launch event for his sister Kaia's project in May, with both parents present.

His sister Kaia spoke to Vogue last month about how Presley's struggles had impacted their family, noting that "when something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone." She also shared how his openness made her want to be the "easy" child, avoiding asking for help.

In previous social media disclosures, Presley detailed his use of medications for night terrors and panic attacks, including Buprenorphine for opioid use disorders and benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, for anxiety. He expressed frustration with the lack of clear direction from his numerous psychiatrists regarding his medication regimen.

Presley's final Instagram post, shared on August 5, featured him modeling clothing. His parents were last photographed on a date night two days before his death.