Presley Gerber was reportedly prescribed ketamine by a doctor despite struggling with the drug, according to sources close to the late model.
The 27-year-old son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and Casamigos tequila founder Rande Gerber died Sunday at a Santa Monica rehabilitation facility, just one day after checking himself in. Friends from Gerber’s inner circle are now “angry” that a physician continued to provide him with the substance, reports said Tuesday, with sources telling the outlet they “think the doc should be prosecuted.”
Gerber had shared his ketamine issues with “close friends” prior to his death, the sources claimed. The model had what was described as a “regular problem” with the drug, according to the same accounts.
“The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” Crawford, Rande Gerber and daughter Kaia Gerber, 24, said in a brief statement issued after the outlet first broke the news. The family did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the prescription allegations Tuesday.
Presley Gerber had been open about his mental health and substance use struggles in the years leading up to his death. He began modeling at age 15, following his mother’s path into the industry, but had long battled self-esteem issues according to those who knew him.
“He had not been doing well,” an insider said on Monday. “He’s always suffered from a huge lack of self-esteem and had trouble accepting his real self and feeling fully confident in who he was as a person.”
Reports said that Gerber was under the influence when he arrived at the Los Angeles rehab center over the weekend. Reports said that he “did not appear sober” upon checking in, though what substances may have been in his system at the time of death remains unclear.
The model had recognized he needed help, checking himself into the high-profile facility because “he knew he needed help,” according to Monday’s report.
Ketamine carries FDA approval primarily as a general anesthetic, though it is sometimes employed in treating drug addiction. The circumstances surrounding Gerber’s death have drawn comparisons to another high-profile case: “Friends” star Matthew Perry died of an acute ketamine overdose in October 2023 at age 54. Five people, including a doctor, were ultimately charged and pleaded guilty in connection with Perry’s death.
Gerber’s passing marks another instance of a young celebrity whose life ended amid questions about medical oversight and access to substances they were known to struggle with.
