HEARTBROKEN: Lorraine Kelly Makes Emotional Plea After Heartbreaking Hollywood Loss Is Announced
Lorraine Kelly issued an emotional plea for privacy after Lorraine shared the heartbreaking news that Presley Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, had died aged 27.
The ITV presenter returned to screens on Monday as reports of the death were emerging from the US.
Presley was reportedly staying at a rehabilitation facility at the time of his death, although the cause has not been publicly disclosed.
Introducing US correspondent Ross King by video link, Lorraine told viewers that Presley had died “far, far too young”.
She admitted she had only learned of the news shortly before going on air and reflected on how devastating the announcement appeared for a family often viewed from the outside as highly successful.
“I just saw this as I was coming in this morning,” Lorraine said.
She continued: “There are some families that you think, ‘well they’re golden’, you know everything they touch is wonderful – Cindy herself, her husband very successful, their daughter is hugely successful and then wham, this news.”
Ross King Shares Details From America
Ross then spoke about what had been reported in the US.
“Presley, who was just 27, passed away in Malibu Sunday morning,” he said.
Ross noted that Presley had worked as a model and had previously spoken openly about difficulties in his personal life.
“He was a model but also he’s had problems,” Ross said.
“He was very vocal about it as well, mental health problems and problems with drugs and alcohol. Such a sad time for them. He battled for many, many years.”
Ross added that the family were asking for privacy while they grieved.
“The family are just saying they want some time to grieve at the moment during this terrible time,” he said.
He also reflected on how appearances can hide private struggles.
“As we often think from the outside looking in you think they’ve got absolutely everything,” Ross added.
“They lived in Malibu, they got up, they spent their time surfing and in the water but it just shows you so many dark things go on. It’s very sad.”
Lorraine Tells Viewers to ‘Leave Them Alone’
Lorraine responded by sending her condolences to the Gerber family before making a direct appeal for people to respect their privacy.
“We send our very best wishes to them and let’s just leave them alone – I think that’s what we should do,” she said.
Presley was the only son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, who are also parents to model Kaia Gerber.
Like his mother and younger sister, Presley built a career in fashion.
He made his runway debut for Italian fashion house Moschino when he was just 16 and later modelled for major brands including Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana and Bottega Veneta.
Presley also appeared alongside his mother in Pepsi’s 2018 Super Bowl commercial, 26 years after Cindy starred in her famous 1992 advertisement for the company.
Speaking to People at the time, he described how comfortable he felt working with his mother.
“We’re a really tight family, so it was just like going to work with one of your friends,” he said.
“It was so fun, and easy.”
Presley Previously Spoke About Mental Health
In recent years, Presley had spoken publicly about his mental health and past drug use.
During a 2023 appearance on the Studio 22 podcast, he explained that he hoped speaking honestly about his experiences might help others facing similar struggles.
“Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that, I think that whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that’s all I need to do,” he said.
Presley’s father, Rande Gerber, is a businessman who co-founded Casamigos tequila with George Clooney.
The family had not disclosed further details about the circumstances surrounding Presley’s death in the source.
For Lorraine, the focus was instead on giving them space to grieve away from the public spotlight.
Her message was simple: amid the shock surrounding Presley’s death at such a young age, his family should be allowed to mourn privately.