Kaia Gerber reportedly stepping away from her busy professional schedule as she struggles to cope with the death of her older brother, Presley Gerber. The 25-year-old model and actress is said to be dependent on her parents, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerberalong with lover Lewis Pullman and several long-time friends. Although Kaia has built a successful career for herself, it is reported that those promises are taking a back seat as she mourns the brother she thought was her “best friend”.
Kaia Gerber has reportedly delayed work commitments
According to the Daily Mail, Kaia has put a number of professional duties on hold following Presley’s death at the age of 27. “Kaia had a full schedule, and she put a lot of her work on hold 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 modeling and acting career, but the insider said no timeline has been set for her return. The hiatus is said to allow her to stay close to her family while she deals with a loss that still doesn’t feel real.
Presley died on September 20 after being 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 uncertain.
It is reported that Presley Gerber’s death is not ‘sinking in’ for his sister
The insider said that Kaia was struggling to understand that her brother is gone. “Kaia is very sad; it’s hard for her to believe that her brother is gone forever. It’s not sinking in yet; it’s a lot to digest, understandably,” the source told the Daily Mail.
It is reported that those closest to the actress are worried about how she will handle the loss while the initial shock passes. “Everyone in the family is worried about Kaia; they’re afraid she won’t be able to handle this, but she has a good network around her. She has old friends who make her feel better,” the insider continued.
Kaia previously spoke about trying to be an “easy child” while growing up because Presley needed a lot of attention from their parents. Crawford and Gerber reportedly spent years trying to help their son as he struggled with an addiction that began when he was a teenager in the modeling industry. Now, their focus has reportedly turned to supporting Kaia through the devastating aftermath of his death.
Cindy Crawford and Lewis Pullman are among the ‘Greatest Friends’
Kaia is reportedly surrounded by a tight support system, including her parents and boyfriend, Lewis Pullman. “Her biggest friends are her parents and her boyfriend Lewis, even Bill’s dad,” 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 friends who have reached out,” the insider said. “She sure likes it a lot.”
Members of Kaia’s celebrity circle have also reportedly shown their support. “Kendall [Jenner] she introduced herself and her mother Kris [Jenner] he sent flowers,” the source said.
Kaia Gerber considered Presley her ‘best friend’
The loss is said to be especially painful because of the close bond Kaia shares with Presley. “She and Presley were best friends,” the family source said.
Both sisters started modeling as teenagers and faced the pressure of fame at a young age. However, their paths into the industry took a different path. 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 stayed in high school in Malibu as she finished her junior year before starting to model full-time at 16.
“Kaia and Presley were really nice, cool kids from Malibu who got 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 they weren’t used to the ugly side of New York City.”
The sisters eventually returned to California after spending time working in New York.
Presley Gerber’s cause of death remains undetermined
Presley reportedly searched Resolutions Living about 12 hours before he was found unanswered on September 20. The Santa Monica Police Department is investigating his death as suspicious. However, the suspected dose 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 withheld pending toxicology results. These 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 origin and supplier of any materials that may be involved.