Before His Death, Presley Gerber Spoke About His Mother — And His Final Words Now Carry New Weight

LOS ANGELES — In the months before his death, Presley Gerber spoke openly about his struggles, his recovery and the people who stood beside him — including his mother, supermodel Cindy Crawford.

Presley, the 27-year-old son of Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died September 20 at a rehabilitation facility, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. The official cause of death has not been publicly released.

But some of his final public words now offer a more personal glimpse into his relationship with his family.

“You Are a Warrior”

In March, Presley shared a deeply personal post about an addiction-treatment experience.

He described being frightened before undergoing an ibogaine treatment in Mexico and wrote about confronting parts of himself he had been running from.

Crawford responded publicly.

“You are a warrior!” she wrote, adding that she was proud of him.

Presley replied with a simple message to his mother: “love you mama!!!”

The exchange offered a glimpse into the support between mother and son during what appeared to be a difficult period in his life.

His father, Rande Gerber, also publicly expressed his pride and support.

Presley Was Open About His Struggles

Presley had previously spoken publicly about mental health, depression and substance abuse.

During a 2023 podcast appearance, he said he hoped his own experiences could help other people who were struggling.

That openness continued into 2026, when he discussed his recovery journey and the importance of confronting problems rather than hiding them.

In June, Presley appeared alongside his parents at an event focused on mental health and addiction. During the event, he described honesty with himself as a major part of feeling free.

His family had remained closely involved throughout his struggles.

Cindy Crawford Had Spoken About Her Children With Pride

Only months before Presley’s death, Crawford spoke publicly about her relationship with her children.

In a PEOPLE interview, she said she was especially proud of the bond between Presley and his younger sister, Kaia Gerber.

She described watching her children interact as one of the things that made her most proud as a parent.

On July 2, Crawford also publicly celebrated Presley’s 27th birthday.

She shared childhood and recent photos of her son and wrote that she was proud of the man he had become while still seeing him as her little boy.

His Family Asked for Privacy

After Presley’s death, the family released a brief statement asking the public to respect their privacy.

His death has since prompted renewed attention to the years he spent speaking about mental health and addiction.

Recent reports have also revealed footage from the rehabilitation facility where Presley spent his final hours, but those reports do not establish the complete circumstances surrounding his death.

The official cause of death remains an important unanswered question.

For now, perhaps the most revealing details are not the rumors surrounding his final days, but the words Presley left behind himself.

He spoke about fear.

He spoke about recovery.

And when his mother publicly told him she was proud of the fight he was making, his response was simple:

“Love you, mama.”

Those words now remain as one of the clearest public glimpses into the relationship between Presley Gerber and Cindy Crawford before his death at 27.