Clooney and Amal Join Friends in Grief as Presley Gerber’s Death Raises Questions About Rehab Facility

Key points

• Presley Gerber, 27, died on September 20, 2026, at Resolutions Living in Santa Monica, a facility owned by Dr. Reza Nabavi.
• George and Amal Clooney arrived at the Gerber family home in Los Angeles to provide support, with sources describing Clooney as 'shattered' by the loss.
• The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not released an official cause of death, though dispatch calls cited cardiac arrest and a suspected overdose.
• Page Six reports that Dr. Nabavi’s psychology license was initially denied in 2004 due to a 2002 arrest involving methamphetamine and a 15-year-old girl.
• The Department of Health Care Services states that Resolutions Living is not a licensed substance use disorder residential treatment facility, operating instead as a sober living residence.

Background

Presley Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and hospitality executive Rande Gerber, had a public history of substance abuse and legal issues, including a 2019 DUI. He was admitted to the Santa Monica facility on September 19, the day before his death. George Clooney and Rande Gerber are long-time friends and business partners, having co-founded the Casamigos tequila brand, which was sold to Diageo for $1 billion in 2017.

How outlets are covering it

Just Jared and Fox News emphasize the personal bond between the Clooneys and the Gerber family, highlighting Clooney’s role as a supportive figure and 'Uncle George' to the children. In contrast, Page Six focuses on the regulatory and legal background of the facility where Presley died, detailing Dr. Nabavi’s criminal record and the lack of state licensure for the facility. While entertainment outlets focus on the grief of the family, Page Six frames the story around the safety and oversight of the recovery environment.

Why it matters

The death of Presley Gerber has sparked scrutiny of the standards and licensing of 'sober living' facilities in California. The revelation that the owner of the facility where Presley died had a criminal history and that the site was not licensed for medical detoxification raises significant questions about the safety of unregulated recovery environments for high-profile individuals.

What to watch

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner is expected to release the official cause of death following an autopsy. Investigations may also examine the licensing status of Resolutions Living and the qualifications of its staff, given the recent reports regarding Dr. Nabavi’s past.