Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber Defend Parenting After Son’s Death

The narrative that the couple were absent Hollywood parents is entirely false, according to an insider who spoke to PEOPLE Magazine. The source described a family that remained intimately connected throughout Presley’s years of mental health and addiction struggles. The parents reportedly watched their son navigate a cycle of painful setbacks and periods of recovery, including a time when he worked at the family’s Malibu restaurant and appeared to be in a stable place.

This defense surfaces in response to remarks made by Megyn Kelly, who scrutinized the couple’s decision to allow Presley and his sister, Kaia, to enter the modeling industry at a young age. Kelly argued that the pressures of the industry and the environment of Hollywood required more protection than the children received. Despite this criticism, the family has maintained a private front, focusing on the memory of Presley’s efforts to advocate for others.

Presley had recently become more vocal about his personal challenges, launching a social media series titled “Mental Health Mondays” to destigmatize the conversation around substance use. His parents publicly cheered these efforts, with Crawford calling him a “warrior” earlier this year after he underwent ibogaine treatment in Mexico. The family now remains in what sources describe as a state of profound shock and grief, mourning a son who spent his final months attempting to use his own vulnerability to help those struggling with similar battles.