Presley Gerber’s “MISUNDERSTOOD” face tattoo has come back into public attention following the death of the model at the age of 27.
Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died on September 20 at a rehabilitation facility, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner cited in reports. His cause of death has not been announced, and an autopsy is pending. His family has asked for privacy.
The tattoo became one of the most recognisable parts of Gerber’s public image after he had the word “MISUNDERSTOOD” inked across his cheek in February 2020. The tattoo was done by celebrity tattoo artist Jonathan “JonBoy” Valena.
At the time, the decision attracted considerable attention and criticism, with some people questioning why Gerber had chosen to permanently tattoo his face. He responded publicly to those comments, saying that outsiders did not know what he was experiencing personally.
“You don't know how I feel. You're not in my head,” Gerber said while defending the tattoo.
He also explained that the word reflected how he felt about being perceived by others.
“I don’t feel very understood, I guess,” he said.
Gerber later appeared to have the tattoo removed. Photographs from 2021 showed the lettering on his cheek fading, suggesting that he was undergoing tattoo-removal treatment. By August that year, the tattoo was reportedly no longer clearly visible.
The face tattoo was only one of several tattoos Gerber had over the years. His collection included a barbed-wire design on his hand and a gun tattoo near his hip. He also had tattoos connected to his family, including one with his sister Kaia Gerber. In 2018, he had “Kaia XXIII” inked on his arm as a tribute to her.
Gerber had also spoken publicly about personal struggles, including depression, anxiety and substance abuse. In interviews and podcast appearances, he discussed his experiences with mental health and addiction and encouraged people to speak openly about such issues.
During an appearance on the Studio 22 podcast, Gerber said he hoped that sharing his own experiences could help people dealing with similar difficulties. He described mental health as an ongoing process and emphasised the importance of people knowing that they were not alone.
His public comments about his struggles became an important part of his later public profile, alongside his modelling career and life in a prominent family.
After the tattoo began to fade, a source close to the family told PEOPLE at the time that Gerber was doing well and was focused on helping his father with the family’s restaurant business. The source said he was working there regularly.
Gerber’s death has now brought renewed attention to his earlier comments about feeling misunderstood and his efforts to speak publicly about personal challenges. However, authorities have not yet released a cause of death, and the circumstances remain under investigation pending the medical examiner’s findings.
His family has requested privacy following his death.
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