Presley, the only son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, died on Sunday, Sept. 20
Credit: Paris Hilton/Instagram
NEED TO KNOW
- Paris Hilton shared a heartfelt message mourning Presley Gerber, calling him a “beautiful soul” with a gentle heart
- Presley, the son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, died at the age of 27 on Sunday, Sept. 20
- He had been open about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse, hoping to help others through his experiences
Paris Hilton is paying heartfelt tribute to her longtime friend Presley Gerber following his death at the age of 27.
On Sunday, Sept. 20, the heiress, 45, shared an Instagram Story about Presley following the news of his death earlier that day.
Alongside a picture of herself with Presley, Hilton wrote, “I’m completely heartbroken. I still can’t believe this is real.”
Credit: Paris Hilton/Instagram
The mom of two went on to describe Presley, who died at a rehab facility, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records obtained by PEOPLE, as a “beautiful soul.”
“So sweet, sensitive, and kind and genuine. I cared about you so much, and I’m going to miss you more than words can say,” she continued.
She went on to describe the “memories” she shared with Presley. “You had such a gentle heart, and there was something so special about you that anyone who was lucky enough to know you could feel.”
Her message, which was accompanied by an acoustic version of the Eric Clapton track “Tears in Heaven,” went on to note that “My heart is with your entire family during this unimaginable time.”
Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty
Hilton’s message concluded, “Rest in peace, my friend. Love you forever. You will be so deeply missed.”
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A representative for Presley’s mother, Cindy Crawford; father, Rande Gerber; and sister, Kaia Gerber, told PEOPLE, “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.”
Born in Beverly Hills, Calif., in 1999, Presley was a model himself. He was charged with a DUI in December 2019, and in 2020, he got a tattoo on his face that read, “MISUNDERSTOOD”; although a year later, he appeared to have had it removed.
Credit: Patrick McMullan via Getty
In February 2023, Presley opened up about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse on the Studio 22 podcast.
He described his mental health journey as “a big part of my life” and a “24/7 job.” He went on to describe how he hoped to use his own struggles to help those who were also struggling.
“I’ve seen a lot of stuff, and I’ve learned a lot of things. What I hope I can do is have made the mistakes for some other people, so they don’t have to make the same mistakes that I made,” Presley said.
Presley was signed by IMG Models at 15, and by 17, he and Kaia (then 14) started getting major attention. Presley made his runway debut in a Moschino show in Los Angeles, headed to Milan for a Dolce & Gabbana show and appeared in a Calvin Klein campaign.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
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