Presley Gerber's Ex Shares Personal Tribute — and One Detail She Included Says Everything

Lexi Wood has broken her silence following the death of her ex-boyfriend Presley Gerber, sharing a personal tribute to someone who remained an important part of her life.

Wood looked back on their years together through photos and a video, revisiting a connection that extended beyond the brief romance they once shared publicly. Her tribute also included a personal reminder of what that bond looked like away from the public eye.

Their Public Romance Was One Part of a Longer Connection

Gerber and Wood publicly confirmed their romance on Instagram in November 2022 with posts from a beach outing. E! News reported at the time that the posts included photos of the couple and a video of them kissing. The posts were later removed from their Instagram pages.

Gerber's video was set to an audio track that said, "Guys, I did it. I've found the person that makes me the happiest person I've ever been." Wood also expressed her feelings publicly, writing, "if you didn't already know, I'm in love."

About a month after they went public, sources told the outlet that the couple had ended their relationship. One source said they quickly realized it would not be a long-term relationship, while a source close to Wood said she initiated the split.

Lexi Wood Puts Their Years Together Into Words

In her Instagram tribute, Wood explained that her relationship with Gerber changed over time, but friendship remained at its center. She remembered him as kind, open, loving, and courageous, as well as romantic and thoughtful.

Wood also remembered Gerber for his resilience. She said he "fought hard for his life" and was willing to speak openly about that fight. "More than anything, he wanted to use his story to help other people, and he did," she wrote.

The Moments Wood Chose to Remember With Gerber

Wood's tribute did more than put her memories into words. The photos and video she shared captured personal moments with Gerber — time by the ocean, affectionate snapshots, an embrace on a city street, and the two smiling together in the rain.

Her Tribute Ends With What Their Bond Meant to Her

Among the photos Wood shared was a particularly personal image. A yellow sticky note resting on a laptop carried a handwritten message from Presley Gerber. "I'm so proud of you, you're amazing Lexi. I love you — Prez."

Wood then closed her statement by putting into words what their years together had meant to her: "I feel so lucky to have shared so many years of friendship, so many memories and so much love with him. He will always hold such a special place in my heart, and we will all miss him forever. 🤍"

Wood's remembrance comes as earlier reporting has shed more light on Gerber's final hours and the circumstances surrounding his death.

Presley Gerber Reportedly Sought Help in His Final Days

A source told Page Six that Presley had seemed "a little off" in recent weeks and that something about him appeared different. According to the source, Presley "felt like he was lacking purpose in his life," "hadn’t really found his place," and "didn't really know where he wanted to go and what he wanted to do."

The insider claimed further, "He was struggling with a lot of things, but he wanted so, so badly to be free of his addictions." "He was such a good kid." The source added that Presley went into treatment because he recognized that he needed assistance.

"He went in because he knew he needed help. He had not been doing well. 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," the insider claimed.

Presley had reportedly spent time with his family the week before his death and was particularly close to his loved ones, especially his father, Rande. His last Instagram post, shared on August 5, presented a very different image from the struggles sources later described. In the nine-slide carousel, Presley smiled while modeling a Vuori outfit in a garden.

He Had Checked in Only Hours Earlier

What makes the timeline especially striking is how little time Presley had reportedly spent at the residence before the emergency unfolded. Sources familiar with the situation told TMZ that Presley entered the Santa Monica facility on Saturday night, September 19, 2026, just hours before authorities were called to the property Sunday morning. The co-ed residence provides support for people dealing with substance-abuse issues, mental-health concerns, trauma, and other conditions.

Several other people were reportedly living there at the time. Presley's reported condition when he arrived has since become another important piece of the timeline. Sources who said they had contact with him during his final hours told TMZ that Presley did not appear sober when he checked in.

According to those sources, he appeared to be under the influence of a substance Saturday night while seeking treatment for substance-abuse issues. That account has not been established as an official medical finding, and authorities have not announced what, if anything, Presley may have taken before or after arriving.

But the timeline provided by a law enforcement source now reveals just how little time passed between Presley's arrival at the facility and the discovery that followed.

Presley Checked Into the Facility Late Saturday Night

According to NBC News, Presley checked into Resolutions Living of Santa Monica at approximately 10 p.m. that Saturday. By the following morning, Santa Monica police had been called to the facility. Police said officers responded to a report of a possible overdose at approximately 9:35 a.m. When officers arrived, they found a deceased male.

Authorities have said Presley's death is being investigated as a suspected overdose, though the investigation remains ongoing. Police also noted that there was no indication of foul play, and Resolutions Living did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment.

What Authorities Found in Presley's Room

A law enforcement source told NBC News that Presley was found unresponsive in the room where he had been sleeping. According to the source, he was "cold to the touch" when he was discovered.

The source further revealed that Presley had likely been dead for some time before he was found. The detail provides a heartbreaking glimpse into the hours between his late-night arrival at the treatment facility and the emergency response the next morning, but many questions about exactly what happened during that period remain unanswered.

Despite the suspected-overdose investigation, officials have not announced a definitive cause or manner of death. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said additional testing is necessary before either can be determined, and the department declined to release further details. Presley's family, meanwhile, issued a brief statement asking for "privacy during this very difficult and painful time."

Presley Had Spoken Publicly About His Struggles

Presley was the eldest child of Cindy and Businessman Rande, who married in 1998. His younger sister, Kaia Gerber, also followed their mother into modeling. Both siblings appeared in campaigns for major fashion brands, including Dolce & Gabbana and Calvin Klein. At 18, Presley even joined his mother for a 2018 Pepsi campaign that recreated Cindy's famous 1992 Super Bowl commercial.

But alongside the glamorous public side of his life, Presley had also become increasingly candid about much more personal struggles. He frequently discussed depression and addiction online and launched an Instagram initiative called "Mental Health Mondays," using his platform to speak openly about issues people often keep hidden.

In one Instagram post about his mental health, Presley said he hoped to "spark real conversations about the stuff most people hide." In November, he also explained that he "had to step back and take care of my own mental health for a bit."

Kaia Gerber Called Her Brother an 'Absolute Teacher'

Presley's openness had also made a profound impression on his family. In a Vogue interview published last month (August 2026), Kaia reflected on the contrast between her family's historically private approach and her brother's willingness to discuss his struggles publicly.

"My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn't share anything — and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, 'I'm gonna be very human for everyone,'" she said.

"There's only so much you can hide from the world. And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you're ashamed of them." Her comments now carry an especially poignant weight in light of Presley's death.

Cindy Crawford's Birthday Message to Her Son

Just months earlier, Cindy had publicly celebrated her son's 27th birthday. In July, she shared two photos of Presley, including images of him as a child and young teenager. "I'm so proud of the man you've become, but I'll always see you as my little boy! Love you," the supermodel wrote.

Following Presley's death, tributes from friends and other public figures began pouring in, with several remembering his kindness and his willingness to talk candidly about difficult moments in his life.

The Tributes Dedicated to Presley

Paris Hilton wrote that she is "completely heartbroken" by the news. "I still can't believe this is real," she shared. Paris described Presley as having "a beautiful soul" and said he was "so sweet, sensitive, kind and genuine."

"I cared about you so much, and I'm going to miss you more than words can say," she wrote. "I'll always cherish the memories we shared — the laughs, the conversations, and just being around you. ... I hope you knew how deeply loved you were and how many people cared about you."

Brooklyn Peltz Beckham similarly expressed his heartbreak online. "Presley you were the kindest and we are going to miss you so much x we love you [sic]," he wrote.

Meanwhile, Jason Kennedy said hearing about Presley's death made him "feel sick to my stomach." In an Instagram tribute, Jason shared a video of Presley discussing his mental health challenges and remembered him as someone with "a huge heart."

"He was always open about his struggles because he knew it would help others and IT DID. I always felt a close bond with you Presley, I wish we got to spend more time together [sic]," Kennedy wrote. He also reflected on the bond between Presley and his parents.

"Watching your parents love you the way they did was beautiful, [sic] I'm heartbroken for them and your whole family," Jason continued. "You are at peace in Gods arms and I pray that same peace will cover all those who loved you. You were special [sic]."