Cindy Crawford‘s son’s struggles and past experiences have been resurfacing amid his family’s grief.
Presley Gerber once pushed back against people criticizing his appearance and choices. Six years later, he died at 27, leaving his family and friends mourning his sudden loss.
Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber’s son’s death came after a period in which he had been openly discussing mental health, addiction, and recovery.
Cindy Crawford’s Son Quickly Found Himself Having To Defend His Tattoo Choice
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Presley was only 20 when his face tattoo sparked widespread criticism online. The model had the word “MISUNDERSTOOD” tattooed across his right cheekbone. He quickly found himself defending a decision that had become a major topic of discussion. He took to his Instagram story and wrote:
“Most and a lot of people can get a facelift, change genders, lip injections, etc and it’s offensive to say anything in today’s age, but I get a little face tattoo, and now people love to hate me…”
He questioned why his tattoo attracted such strong reactions when other changes to people’s appearances were more accepted. The comments came after Presley had already defended the tattoo during an Instagram Live video.
As reported by PEOPLE, he told critics they did not know how he felt or what was happening in his head. He also explained that the tattoo represented how he had felt throughout his life.
“I don’t feel very understood, I guess,” Presley said when asked about the tattoo’s meaning. He also insisted he wouldn’t have gotten the tattoo if he believed it would ruin his face. The tattoo represented how he had felt his “entire life.”
What Presley Gerber Said About The Meaning Behind His Face Tattoo
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The late model reportedly challenged people who believed they had the right to judge the decision. “If anyone has sh-t to say to me about this, or anything else, or my family, or how I grew up … I will give you my address,” he said during the Instagram Live.
Presley made the statement while pointing toward the fresh tattoo on his face. He also made clear that the decision was entirely his. The tattoo had been unveiled on February 7, when Presley shared a video of artist Jonathan “JonBoy” Valena working on his face.
The tattoo artist reportedly posted photos of the finished design. Presley captioned his own post, “Thanks homie [smiling face with horns emoji] @jonboytattoo.”
The reaction came during a period when Gerber was already attracting attention for his personal choices. His younger sister Kaia Gerber was also building her own modeling career at the time. Despite the criticism, Presley maintained that his parents loved the tattoo and stood by his decision.
Cindy Crawford’s Son May Have Fooled Everyone With A Second Tattoo
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Just days later, Presley appeared to reveal another tattoo on his face. The new design looked like a faded star with “L.A.” written across the center. Unlike the first tattoo, there were reasons to question whether the second design was real. The image reportedly resembled a tattoo worn by rapper The Game.
Presley captioned his black-and-white selfie “Colorblind” and appeared to present the design as another piece of permanent ink. The post naturally triggered another round of reactions from people following the controversy. Some followers criticized the apparent tattoo, while others defended Gerber’s right to make his own choices.
The Blast highlighted a comment from someone who believed the image was actually an Instagram filter. The commenter wrote, “Guys, it’s a filter.. Y‘all need to chill! And even if it would be a tattoo, it’s still his decision!”
The Game had released Instagram filters featuring his tattoos in December 2019. The resemblance between Presley’s apparent new tattoo and The Game’s design made the filter theory particularly plausible. The episode also came after Presley had wiped most of his Instagram following the backlash over his first tattoo.
Presley’s Family Was Left ‘Unbelievably Shattered’ By His Death
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Presley was cremated days after his death at a sober living home in Santa Monica. His death certificate reportedly states that his ashes will remain at his parents’ Malibu home.
Funeral plans were reportedly being arranged as the family prepared for a small, intimate service. An autopsy had been completed, but his official cause and manner of death remained undetermined.
The medical examiner listed the cause as “deferred” and “pending investigation” while additional testing continued. Presley was found dead in his bedroom at the facility after reportedly seeking help in the days before his death.
His death left his parents and younger sister Kaia grieving deeply. The Blast reported that sources described Crawford and Rande Gerber as “unbelievably shattered” while friends George and Amal Clooney supported the family.
Kaia was reportedly extremely close to her brother, with one source saying they were “way more than brother and sister.” Presley had reportedly been experiencing difficulties in the weeks before his death.
Sources said he was determined to overcome his substance-use problems and had entered the facility because he knew he needed help. Authorities were reportedly investigating the death as a suspected overdose, but there was no indication of foul play and no official cause had been established.
Cindy Crawford’s Son Spent His Final Months Making His Recovery Visible
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Presley opened up about his struggles with mental health and addiction before his death. His final months included efforts to make recovery and mental wellness part of a public conversation. He also said he wanted his experiences to help others facing similar difficulties.
During his “The Studio 22” podcast appearance in 2023, Presley discussed his experiences with mental health and depression. The Blast revealed that he said helping even one person escape a difficult place would be enough for him. He described those struggles as “a 24/7 job” and explained why he wanted to share what he had learned.
In June 2026, the late 27-year-old appeared on a mental health panel at an Aviator Nation Malibu event with We Are Enough. His mother reportedly attended to support him. He also returned to Instagram in November 2025 after taking a two-week break.
He said the time away allowed him to focus on himself and return “stronger, clearer, more intentional than ever.” On September 20, 2026, Presley died at 27 while at a rehabilitation facility, with his official cause of death still undetermined.
