Cindy Crawford and her husband, Rande Gerber, spent years doing everything they could to shield their son, Presley Gerber, from drugs.
The supermodel and businessman devoted much of their energy to supporting the Calvin Klein model as he struggled with an addiction that reportedly began during his teenage years in the modeling industry.
Despite their efforts, Presley died last Sunday at age 27 from a suspected overdose while staying at a rehabilitation home in Santa Monica, California.
Throughout those difficult years, however, Crawford and Gerber also remained mindful of their other child.
The couple took extensive steps to protect their daughter, 25-year-old model and actress Kaia Gerber.
“They wanted to make sure Kaia never faced the same issues as Presley, so they kept a close watch on her,” a source close to the family told Our News Outlet.
Cindy Crawford and her husband, Rande Gerber, went to great lengths to protect their daughter, 25-year-old Kaia, pictured in 2018
“They wanted to make sure Kaia never faced the same issues as Presley, so they kept a close watch on her,” a source told Our News Outlet. She is pictured in 2017
“She remained at high school in Malibu until she was 16 and completed her junior year before beginning to model full time.”
Presley took a different path, leaving high school at 15 to pursue modeling in New York City and Europe. Although he left school, he continued his studies while working and graduated on schedule at 17.
Now Kaia is mourning the loss of the brother she often described as her “best friend,” while her parents concentrate on supporting her through the grief.
“Kaia is extremely sad. It is difficult for her to accept that her brother is gone forever, and it has not fully sunk in yet. Understandably, there is a lot for her to process,” the source told Our News Outlet.
“Everyone in the family is concerned about Kaia and worries about how she will cope, but she has a strong support system around her. Old friends have been there to comfort her.”
Kaia, who recently told Vogue that she tried to be the “easy child” because Presley required so much attention, may now need her parents’ full support as she comes to terms with his death.
“Her greatest sources of support are her parents and her boyfriend, Lewis, as well as his father, Bill,” the source said.
Kaia has also been surrounded by longtime friends from Malibu, many of whom have reached out during this painful period. “She has plenty of Malibu friends, including many old school friends who have contacted her,” the source added. “She is certainly well liked.”
Friends from the fashion and entertainment worlds have offered support as well. “Kendall [Jenner] checked in on her, and her mother, Kris [Jenner], sent flowers.”
Kaia is also stepping away from her modeling and acting career for the time being as she focuses on healing.
Kaia’s parents did not allow her to begin modeling until she was 16 and had completed three years of high school. She is pictured in New York City in September 2017
“Kaia had a packed schedule, but she has postponed much of her work to deal with what happened. Everyone has been understanding,” the source said. “I don’t know when she will return to work.”
Kaia, whom the source says ‘has never done drugs and is squeaky clean,’ is sad that people she loves are drawn toward drugs.
‘Kaia feels like she can’t get away from this drug stuff and it makes her depressed,’ said the source. ‘She hates drugs and doesn’t touch them and is so sad they took Presley away from her. She and Presley were best friends.’
This is not the first time the couple has worked hard to make sure their only daughter is safe.
They also stepped in to help the young Vogue cover girl in late December 2019. The famous couple flew to New York City when their daughter seemed to be having problems with her then-boyfriend Pete Davidson, now 32, who is best known for his work on Saturday Night Live.
Ever since Presley passed, Kaia has been at home with family and friends. Her last red carpet was on September 14 in Los Angeles
The last time Kaia was photographed with her brother, far left, was on May 20 in LA
At the time, it was suspected that Davidson was on drugs. In the past, the comedian has admitted to using Ketamine, cocaine, LSD and marijuana.
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‘She already went through this before with Pete, whom she dated for a while,’ began the source.
‘Kaia had a very hard time with Pete. She dated Pete for like four or five months in late 2019, and she was instantly smitten because he has so much charisma and is smart and hilarious, but then he took a bad turn. He used to do drugs, and he went back on drugs at the time. He was a mess,’ said the source.
Things came to a head, though it is not known what caused their relationship meltdown.
‘When Pete flipped out on her, both her parents stepped in. They flew to NYC to meet with them, and they said “No way,”‘ said the source.
Kris Jenner sent flowers to Kaia as well as Cindy. Seen with daughter Kendall Jenner in December
Kaia and Kendall with Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner in October 2024 in LA
Crawford and Gerber put on a unified front as they came to the rescue. ‘They are amazing parents and did the right thing. They were like, “Come home now, Kaia,”‘ explained the source.
‘New York City is a hard place for anyone, especially sheltered kids from Malibu. Cindy is a very tough mama bear. They made her walk away from Pete because of his history with drugs and all his rehab visits.’
Davidson has been sober for the past two years, and has been outspoken about his sobriety journey, often mentioning that fatherhood and other milestones have inspired him to stay off drugs. The actor welcomed daughter Scottie Rose Hewitt Davidson in December 2025 with then-partner Elsie Hewitt. The couple broke up in May.
Crawford and Gerber also worried about the age difference between Kaia and Davidson.
‘Pete was much older than Kaia, like seven years older. At the time he was like 26, and she was only 18.’
Working like adults in a busy city was a lot for Kaia and Presley to take.
‘Kaia and Presley were seriously decent, nice kids from Malibu who were getting their first taste of fame at the time,’ shared the source. ‘They were new models in New York City, and everyone thought they were amazing. They were just learning the ropes though and were not used to the ugly side of New York City.’
According to the family insider, Kaia’s life improved after she left Manhattan.
‘After Kaia left Pete, she also left New York City to spend some time with her parents in Los Angeles,’ said the source.
On January 15, 2020, Crawford was photographed at a New York airport taking her mini-me daughter to Los Angeles.
This is not the first time the couple has made sure their only daughter is fine. They also stepped in to help her while she was struggling in NYC in late December 2019. The couple seen in NYC in November 2019
The stars flew to New York City when she seemed to be having problems with her boyfriend Pete Davidson, now 32. Kaia and Davidson seen in November 2019 in Miami
‘I seriously think Kaia needed a time out. She totally grounded herself by fostering dogs, and that is when she started to read books like crazy. She healed herself,’ the source said.
And Presley was not seen much in New York City after the summer of 2020 either, with the siblings appearing to have moved back to the West Coast together. ‘At about the same time Presley left New York City for LA,’ the source said.
On Thursday, longtime family friend and Kaia’s Palm Royale costar Laura Dern was seen dropping off a bouquet at her home.
Our News Outlet has reached out to representatives for Crawford, Gerber, Davidson, and Jenner.
Presley’s death is being investigated by the Santa Monica Police Department as a suspected overdose after he was found deceased on September 20, 2026, at the luxury recovery facility Resolutions Living in Santa Monica.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has completed the autopsy, but official cause and manner of death are deferred pending toxicology results, which can take several weeks or months.
Detectives have stated there is currently no indication of foul play, but they are actively trying to trace the source and supplier of the substances involved.
Presley had checked into the facility about 12 hours before being found unresponsive.
Funeral plans have not yet been announced.
