Kaia Gerber shared a heartbreaking tribute to her older brother, Presley Gerber, following his death at 27. Among her most painful memories was a childhood moment when Presley volunteered to go first before she got her ears pierced.
The model and actress posted a throwback video and childhood photographs on Instagram on October 18, alongside a deeply personal reflection on grief. Her words captured the extraordinary bond they shared and the pain of learning to live without her closest companion.
Kaia Gerber recalls a childhood ear-piercing moment and his willingness to go first
In her Instagram tribute, Kaia described Presley as her “ultimate teacher” and remembered how he helped her overcome childhood fears. “When we were little, I got scared before getting my ears pierced, so you went first. You always went first,” she wrote. She then recalled holding an earring taken from his body, adding, “And I really f—ing wish you hadn’t gone first this time.” The American Horror Story actress also reflected on the difficulty of expressing grief. “I was born loving you. I will die loving you,” she wrote, describing the challenge of loving her brother when she could no longer call him or reach for him.
Kaia praised Presley’s ability to remain kind despite the cruelty he encountered. She remembered his curiosity, his belief in people, and the softness he maintained throughout his life. “You stayed soft,” she wrote, describing his gentleness as an extraordinary strength.
Presley, the son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, died on September 20. PEOPLE reported that he was staying at a rehabilitation facility when authorities received a cardiac arrest call. Dispatch recordings also referenced a suspected overdose. Officials had not determined his official cause of death, and the investigation remained ongoing. His death followed years of publicly discussing mental health and substance abuse.
In an August interview with Vogue, Kaia explained how his struggles affected their family. She said she began identifying herself as “the easy one” and avoided asking for help because she worried about placing additional demands on her parents. She also praised Presley’s openness, calling him “this absolute teacher” who chose to be vulnerable publicly. Their parents shared tributes after his death, with Rande describing his son as “My life, my world, my heart.”
