Kaia Gerber is reportedly stepping away from her packed professional schedule as she struggles to process the death of her older brother, Presley Gerber. The 25-year-old model and actress is said to be leaning on her parents, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, along with boyfriend Lewis Pullman and several longtime friends. Although Kaia has built a successful career of her own, those commitments are reportedly taking a back seat as she mourns the brother she considered her “best friend.”
Kaia Gerber Has Reportedly Delayed Work Commitments
According to the Daily Mail, Kaia has postponed several professional obligations following Presley’s death at age 27. “Kaia had a packed schedule, and she has delayed a lot of her work stuff to deal with this. Everyone has been understanding,” a source close to the family told the outlet. “I don’t know when she will go back to work.”
Kaia has maintained a busy career in modeling and acting, but the insider said no timeline has been set for her return. The pause reportedly allows her to remain close to family while processing a loss that still does not feel real.
Presley died on September 20 after he was found unresponsive at Resolutions Living, a recovery facility in Santa Monica, California. His death is being investigated as a suspected overdose, although the official cause and manner remain undetermined.
Presley Gerber’s Death Reportedly ‘Isn’t Sinking In’ For His Sister
The insider claimed Kaia is struggling to comprehend that her brother is gone. “Kaia is very sad; it’s hard for her to believe her brother is gone forever. It’s not sinking in just yet; it’s a lot to digest, understandably,” the source told the Daily Mail.
Those closest to the actress are reportedly concerned about how she will handle the loss as the initial shock wears off. “Everyone in the family is worried about Kaia; they fear she won’t be able to handle this, but she has a good network around her. She has old friends that are making her feel better,” the insider continued.
Kaia previously spoke about trying to be the “easy child” while growing up because Presley required significant attention from their parents. Crawford and Gerber had reportedly spent years attempting to help their son as he struggled with addiction that began during his teenage years in the modeling industry. Now, their attention has reportedly turned toward supporting Kaia through the devastating aftermath of his death.
Cindy Crawford And Lewis Pullman Are Among Her ‘Biggest Allies’
Kaia is reportedly surrounded by a tight support system, including her parents and boyfriend, Lewis Pullman. “Her biggest allies are her parents and her boyfriend Lewis, even his dad Bill,” the source said.
The model is also said to have received support from friends she has known since growing up in Malibu. “She has plenty of Malibu friends, like a lot of old school pals that have reached out,” the insider shared. “She is well liked for sure.”
Members of Kaia’s celebrity circle have reportedly shown their support as well. “Kendall [Jenner] checked in on her and her mom Kris [Jenner] sent flowers,” the source claimed.
Kaia Gerber Considered Presley Her ‘Best Friend’
The loss is reportedly especially painful because of the close bond Kaia shared with Presley. “She and Presley were best friends,” the family source said.
Both siblings began modeling as teenagers and faced the pressures of fame at a young age. However, their paths into the industry unfolded differently. Presley left high school at 15 to pursue modeling opportunities in New York City and Europe. He continued his education while working and graduated at 17. Kaia remained in high school in Malibu through the completion of her junior year before beginning to model full-time at 16.
“Kaia and Presley were seriously decent, nice kids from Malibu who were getting their first taste of fame at the time,” the source said. “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.”
The siblings eventually returned to California after spending time working in New York.
Presley Gerber’s Cause Of Death Remains Undetermined
Presley reportedly checked into Resolutions Living approximately 12 hours before he was found unresponsive on September 20. The Santa Monica Police Department is investigating his death as a suspected overdose. However, the suspected overdose has not been confirmed as the official cause of death.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has completed an autopsy, but the cause and manner of death have been deferred pending toxicology results. Those tests can take several weeks or months to complete.
Police have stated that there is currently no indication of foul play. Investigators are reportedly working to determine the source and supplier of any substances that may have been involved.
