Kaia Gerber is emerging from weeks of seclusion following her brother’s sudden death.
The 23-year-old model was spotted leaving a Los Angeles gym on Sunday, marking her first public appearance since Presley Gerber, 27, died on Sept. 20 at a Santa Monica rehab facility, a source close to the family said Monday. She had remained holed up at home with boyfriend Lewis Pullman since learning of the loss, surrounded by a rotating circle of friends.
“She had a little cocoon there with friends stopping by. She tried her best to hold it together, but she was not eating much, she had no appetite, which is hard for her as she has said in the past she suffers from ‘disordered eating,'” the source said.
“She was in total shock so it was a big emotional process just to come to the realization that she would never see her brother again. Everyone in the family is worried about her.”
The insider noted that the “Palm Royale” actress had let self-care routines slip entirely during her withdrawal. “She also has not cut her hair or done her nails, and she has been in sweats the whole time. Her mom has encouraged her to keep a routine going to help deal with grief.”
That maternal push came from Cindy Crawford, who along with husband Rande Gerber has reportedly been “bending over backwards” to support their surviving child. The source emphasized the couple’s relentless presence: “Cindy and Rande have really been there for Kaia, as has George [Clooney]. They are bending over backwards to make sure she is OK.”
Clooney’s involvement underscores the deep ties between the families; the Oscar winner has been friends with Rande Gerber for decades. The source also singled out influencer Jake Shane as part of Kaia’s support network, revealing he was seen at her house after Presley’s death helping her search for an escaped cat.
Pullman, 31, has functioned as Kaia’s “rock” throughout the ordeal. The couple’s bond is expected to carry onto set: they are slated to co-star in “Bulls,” a thriller written and directed by James Morosini. The insider said filming is planned for the end of this year, with costume fittings possibly beginning next month.
“It’s a good thing her boyfriend Lewis, who is her ‘rock’ these days, is her co-star so he can look after her, they are closer than ever,” the source said, adding that while Kaia “cannot back out” of the project, “they can push the dates out a bit.”
The devastating loss has been particularly acute given the siblings’ exceptionally tight relationship. Shortly after Presley’s passing, a source said that “Kaia and Presley were insanely close. I don’t know how she’s going to go on without him.” The insider continued: “They were way more than brother and sister. She is heartbroken. They were like best friends.”
Presley was found dead in a bedroom at Resolutions Living, a $7.7 million luxury rehabilitation home where he had checked in that same weekend. According to 911 audio, he was treated for a suspected “overdose” after going into cardiac arrest; an official cause of death has not yet been released. He was reportedly under the influence of a substance upon arrival at the facility, where a doctor had allegedly prescribed him ketamine despite what sources described as a “regular problem” with the drug.
The Gerber family has faced this tragedy while grappling with Crawford’s own prescient fears. In an interview years before Presley’s death, the supermodel had spoken about being unable to “imagine the pain of losing a child.” More recently, she had publicly gushed about Kaia and Presley’s close bond, making the current reality all the more crushing for the family.
Kaia’s gradual re-emergence suggests a tentative step toward normalcy, though the source made clear she remains in the early stages of processing. The model has not yet returned to professional obligations, and her representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on her condition or schedule.
Costume fittings for “Bulls” could begin as early as next month in Los Angeles.
