Kaia Gerber has paid tribute to her older brother, Presley Gerber, in an emotional statement recalling their childhood bond and the pain of losing him at 27.

The 25-year-old model and actress shared the tribute on Instagram on October 18, posting childhood photographs and a video of the siblings alongside a lengthy letter addressed to Presley, whom she called “Prez”.

“I don’t have the words. And maybe the tiny mercy is that we didn’t need them all along,” she wrote, reflecting on her struggle to make sense of his death. She also questioned what she could learn from his absence after describing him as her “ultimate teacher”.

Photo: Gilbert Flores/Getty Images

Kaia remembered Presley as someone who continued to believe in people even when they treated him unkindly. She described his response to cruelty as one of confusion and curiosity, rather than anger.

One of the most revealing passages in her letter concerned a childhood memory. Kaia recalled being frightened before having her ears pierced, so Presley went first to help her feel less afraid. She remembered how he had always taken the lead, before reflecting on the moment she held the earring removed from his body after his death.

“I really f*cking wish you hadn’t gone first this time,” she wrote.

Kaia also described the difficulty of adjusting to a life in which she could no longer call her brother or share things with him as they once had. “I am learning how to love you when I cannot see you,” she wrote, acknowledging that she did not yet know how to navigate that absence.

Photo: Getty

She ended the tribute by reaffirming her enduring love for Presley, writing that she had been born loving him and would die loving him. She added that even knowing the grief she would eventually face, she would choose to be his sister all over again.

Her message came as their parents, supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, also publicly mourned their son. In a family statement shared on Instagram, they said they were heartbroken and described Presley as a kind and vulnerable person who was loved by many. They thanked those who had reached out to support them.

Photo: Getty

Presley died on September 20 at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California. He was 27. Santa Monica police investigated his death as a suspected overdose, while the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said the official cause and manner of death had been deferred pending further testing. The cause has not been officially confirmed.

Presley had previously spoken publicly about his struggles with addiction and mental health. Through social media, including a series called Mental Health Mondays, he discussed his experiences in the hope that others facing similar difficulties would feel less alone.

Photo: Courtesy Coty

In Vogue’s September 2026 issue, published shortly before his death, Kaia discussed how her brother’s struggles had affected their family. She said she had come to see him as someone who encouraged them to be more open about difficult experiences. She also reflected on how trying to hide such struggles could make a person feel that their family was ashamed of them.

Her latest tribute offered a more personal account of their relationship, centred on the memories they shared and the brother she had looked to throughout her childhood. For Kaia, the task now is to find ways to maintain that connection while coming to terms with his death.

Hugo Taylor has spoken publicly about the end of his marriage to Millie Mackintosh, describing the past year as one of “considerable sadness” in a statement shared on Instagram Stories on Wednesday, 14 October.

The Made in Chelsea star, 40, said he had refrained from commenting on their separation to protect his family’s privacy and provide stability for their two daughters, Sienna and Aurelia.

“I have refrained from making any personal public comment on the end of my marriage out of respect for our family’s privacy and the importance of maintaining stability for our daughters during a period of significant change,” he wrote.

“While the past year has brought considerable sadness, I remain grateful for what matters most in my life.”

photo: Instagram/@Hugotaylor

Taylor added that he was committed to giving his daughters the “love, security and consistency they deserve” as the family adjusts to the separation.

“I have been deeply moved by the kindness and support I have received from friends and family, and look to the future with faith and optimism,” he continued.

Photo: Getty Images

Taylor and Mackintosh met through Made in Chelsea in 2011. After an earlier breakup, they reconciled and married in Sussex in 2018. They welcomed Sienna in 2020 and Aurelia in 2021.

Mackintosh, 37, was previously married to rapper Professor Green, whose real name is Stephen Manderson. They wed in 2013 and divorced in 2016.

Taylor and Mackintosh’s separation emerged in February 2026, after seven years of marriage. Neither has publicly explained the circumstances behind their decision to part ways.

Photo: Getty Images

Mackintosh has since gone public with her relationship with Matthew Tanner, 38. She shared a photograph of them on Instagram Stories after Tanner posted a selfie of the pair during a walk. They were also photographed together at the Boodles Old Bond Street flagship opening in London earlier in October.

Taylor did not mention Tanner in his statement, focusing instead on the emotional impact of the separation and his commitment to his daughters.

Kaia Gerber has been spotted in Los Angeles for the first time since the death of her older brother, Presley Gerber, who died aged 27 on 20 September.

The model and actress was photographed leaving a gym on Sunday, 11 October. She wore black leggings and a dark jumper, paired with white socks, slippers and black sunglasses. Her brunette hair was worn loose.

Photo: Backgrid

Presley was the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber. He died at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Police are investigating the death as a suspected overdose, although the official cause of death has not been confirmed.

Kaia previously spoke about her brother’s struggles with drug addiction in an interview published in Vogue on 11 August. She described how his experiences affected the family and explained why she was proud of his decision to speak publicly about his difficulties.

“My parents … were very, very private,” she said. “Now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who said, ‘I’m gonna be very human for everyone.’”

Photo: Getty

Presley had discussed his mental health and substance-use struggles publicly, including through social media. His willingness to share those experiences became an important part of Kaia’s reflections on their family life.

The siblings also shared professional connections. Both pursued modelling careers and appeared together in a Calvin Klein Jeans global advertising campaign in 2018. Kaia later established herself as an actress, with roles in film and television alongside her modelling work.

Photo: Backgrid

Cindy and Rande were also seen together in Malibu on 10 October, walking hand in hand along Zuma Beach in their first reported public outing as a couple since their son’s death. The family has asked for privacy following the loss.

Kaia’s appearance at the gym comes as the family continues to deal with Presley’s death away from the public spotlight. Authorities have yet to establish the official cause of his death.