Cindy Crawford's July Tribute to Son Presley Is Being Read Differently After His Death at 27

On July 2, Cindy Crawford posted a birthday message to her son Presley Gerber, who was turning 27. She wrote that she was so proud of the man he had become, but that she would always see him as her little boy. On September 20, Presley died at a rehab facility. No cause of death has been released, and the family has asked for privacy. That two-month gap between a mother’s birthday post and an unimaginable loss is why this story is everywhere right now.

Presley was unusually candid about his mental health and substance abuse struggles over the years. In one of his most quoted moments, he said the most free he felt was when he was finally honest with himself. That honesty is a big part of why so many people who never met him are feeling this one. His last public appearance was on June 11 in Malibu, alongside his parents.

In a recent interview, Crawford talked about empty nesting and her hope of becoming a grandmother one day. Those comments have taken on a heavy new meaning in the days since. This is a story about a family first, and it’s also a reminder that addiction and mental health don’t care whose name is in the headline. If you or someone you love needs support, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text, 24 hours a day.

Have you ever kept a birthday message from a loved one that you’ll never delete? Tell us in the comments.