Kaia Gerber was in the middle of celebrating one of her latest acting projects when she unknowingly shared what would become one of the final public glimpses into her relationship with her brother, Presley Gerber.
Just days before the 27-year-old’s death, the actress spoke fondly about the quiet ways Presley had supported her career, revealing that he had been closely following her work on television. In hindsight, the comments have taken on a heartbreaking new meaning for the Gerber family.
Kaia Gerber Revealed Presley’s Quiet Support Days Before Tragedy
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While promoting Ryan Murphy’s FX series “The Shards” at a Los Angeles event on September 16, Kaia Gerber spoke warmly about the family members who had been following her performance as student body president Susan Reynolds.
The 25-year-old shared that she had been hosting “watch parties” with her parents, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, as the series aired. However, it was her older brother’s involvement that stood out.
“My brother’s been watching, which is very sweet. He sends me photos watching,” Kaia told PEOPLE.
Days later, Presley died at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, responding paramedics pronounced him dead at 9:45 a.m.
Recordings revealed that Santa Monica police received a call reporting a cardiac arrest at the address, while another dispatch indicated first responders were investigating a possible overdose.
Kaia Called Presley An ‘Absolute Teacher’ Before His Death
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The recent interview was not the only time Kaia Gerber spoke publicly about her brother in recent weeks. Before the tragedy, she already credited him with changing how their family approached difficult conversations.
In her interview with Vogue in August, Kaia reflected on Presley’s decade-long struggle with addiction and the effect it had on everyone around him. Rather than focusing solely on his battles, she praised the honesty with which he chose to confront them publicly.
“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,’” she said.
The model explained that watching Presley speak openly about addiction and mental health taught her an important lesson about vulnerability.
“There’s only so much you can hide from the world,” she said, adding, “trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them.”
Kaia also revealed how the situation shaped her own role within the family.
“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” she explained. “I think that’s also why I started to self-identify as the easy one and never wanted to ask for help.”
Kaia Gerber Praised Presley For Speaking Openly About Addiction
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That admiration grew from years of watching Presley turn his struggles into conversations that could help others.
By 2024 and 2025, Presley had begun speaking candidly about substance abuse, prescription medication dependency, panic attacks, and recovery. He later launched his “Mental Health Mondays” series to encourage more honest discussions about emotional well-being.
Kaia told Vogue that her brother’s willingness to be transparent stood in sharp contrast to the environment they grew up in.
“My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn’t share anything,” she said, noting that Presley instead chose to put his experiences in public view.
His openness became especially visible in March when he documented undergoing ibogaine treatment in Mexico. As The Blast reported, Presley shared his experience online, and Kaia publicly supported him, writing, “that’s my brother I am so damn proud.”
More From The Blast
Presley And Kaia’s Last Public Appearance Resurfaces
Months before Presley’s death, he joined his sister Kaia Gerber and their parents for a family outing that has now taken on a more poignant meaning.
As InStyle reported, the siblings were photographed together at the May 20 launch of Kaia’s collaboration with RE/DONE in Los Angeles, where Presley appeared to be fully engaged in supporting his younger sister’s latest fashion venture.
The event also marked a rare public appearance for the entire Crawford-Gerber family. Presley attended the launch of Kaia’s RE/DONE collection and the premiere of her accompanying short film, “Short/Cuts.”
Dressed casually in jeans, a red plaid button-down shirt and a black T-shirt, the 27-year-old model posed alongside Kaia, Crawford and Rande as the family celebrated Kaia’s work.
Photos from the event showed the siblings smiling together, while other images captured the family posing as a group.
Presley Gerber’s Ex Lexi Wood Shares Heartfelt Tribute
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The resurfaced images of Presley celebrating Kaia Gerber’s milestone have become one of several reminders of the relationships he maintained in the years leading up to his death.
Beyond his family, others who knew him closely have also begun sharing memories of the man they remember behind the headlines.
As The Blast reported, among them was former girlfriend Lexi Wood, who posted an emotional tribute reflecting on a bond that continued long after their romance ended.
“It’s hard to put into words what it means to lose someone who was such a meaningful part of my life for so many years,” Wood wrote, adding, “Through every chapter and every version of our relationship, friendship was always at the core of it.”
She explained that those who knew Presley best saw him as “one of the kindest, most open, loving and courageous people,” adding that he “loved so deeply, so purely, was incredibly romantic and thoughtful.”
Wood also reflected on the struggles Presley had spoken about publicly throughout his life. “He fought so hard for his life and he was brave enough to be open about that fight,” she wrote. “More than anything, he wanted to use his story to help other people, and he did.”
The former couple dated in 2022 and remained close afterward. Concluding her message, Wood said she felt fortunate to have shared “so many years of friendship, so many memories and so much love” with Presley, adding, “He will always hold such a special place in my heart, and we will all miss him forever.”
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