Cindy Crawford shares first public statement on son Presley Gerber’s death

Actress and model Cindy Crawford made her first public statement on her son Presley Gerber’s death Sunday.

“He is a sweet, beautiful soul who loved and is loved, now and forever,” Crawford wrote on Instagram. “We are so proud of how he showed up in the world, with kindness and vulnerability.”

Gerber, a model, died on Sept. 20 at age 27 while at a rehab facility. As of late September, the Santa Monica Police Department was investigating his death as a suspected overdose.

Born in California in 1999, Gerber was one of two children Crawford shared with businessman Rande Gerber. Like his sister, Kaia Gerber, he entered the modeling industry at a young age, making his runway debut for Italian label Moschino aged just 16.

Last December, Gerber posted a video to Instagram describing his use of prescription medication, including antidepressants and Xanax for panic attacks.

“Unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of loss in many different forms recently,” he said in the since-removed video. “So that is not an excuse, but it’s the reason why I am where I’m at now.”

Commenting on the video at the time, Crawford had written, “Presley — we love you and you are not alone.” More recently, the 60-year-old supermodel had posted to Facebook to mark her son’s 27th birthday in July, writing: “I’m so proud of the man you’ve become, but I’ll always see you as my little boy!”

Crawford asked for privacy after Gerber’s death.

“We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from so many who know and love our family and even strangers who feel our pain,” Crawford wrote Sunday. “Til we meet again our sweet boy. We love you forever, Mom, Dad and Kaia.”