Presley Gerber face tattoo searches largely trace back to one word: “Misunderstood,” the small cheek tattoo he revealed in 2020 and later had removed.
The tattoo quickly became one of the most recognizable pieces of body art associated with Gerber. At the time, he was 20 years old and already known as the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber. He had also established himself as a model in his own right.
Gerber unveiled the tattoo on Instagram in February 2020 after having celebrity tattoo artist Jonathan “JonBoy” Valena ink the word beneath his eye. The decision immediately attracted attention because the tattoo was placed prominently on his face rather than somewhere easily covered.
The story eventually took another turn. Public photographs in 2021 showed that the lettering had disappeared, and Gerber later directly confirmed that he had the face tattoo removed.
That makes the history of the tattoo relatively clear: it was real, it was intended to express how Gerber felt at the time, and it was later removed.
When Did Presley Gerber Get His Face Tattoo?
Gerber revealed the tattoo on February 7, 2020, sharing a video of himself during the tattoo session on Instagram. JonBoy, whose real name is Jonathan “JonBoy” Valena, created the tattoo.
The lettering read “MISUNDERSTOOD” in capital letters. It was placed on Gerber’s upper cheek underneath his eye.
Contemporary coverage from Us Weekly, ELLE, Teen Vogue and The Independent documented the reveal and the reaction that followed.
Gerber did not present the tattoo as a secret or an accidental piece of ink. He publicly showed the process and later addressed questions about why he had chosen the word.
The location was particularly striking. A tattoo on the arm, chest or leg can usually remain private or be covered by clothing. A cheek tattoo is much harder to conceal, especially for someone working in fashion and appearing in photographs.
That visibility became an important part of the public conversation surrounding the tattoo.
What Did Presley Gerber’s Face Tattoo Say?
The tattoo said “MISUNDERSTOOD.”
The word appeared in a relatively small, simple typeface on the upper cheek beneath one of Gerber’s eyes. Reports from the time differ slightly in describing the exact side of his face, but contemporary photographs and later coverage identify the tattoo as the “Misunderstood” cheek tattoo.
ELLE’s February 2020 report described the tattoo as appearing on his right cheek, while other later coverage has referred to the placement differently. The important point is that the word was positioned prominently beneath his eye.
The tattoo became closely associated with Gerber because of both its wording and its location.
Unlike a decorative symbol whose meaning might be open to interpretation, “Misunderstood” was a direct statement. Gerber also explained publicly why he selected the word.
Why Did Presley Gerber Get the “Misunderstood” Tattoo?
Gerber explained the meaning himself during an Instagram Live session shortly after revealing the tattoo.
When asked why he had chosen “Misunderstood,” he said that he did not feel very understood. His comments made clear that the word represented his own feelings rather than a message about another person.
He also defended his decision against people who criticized the appearance of the tattoo.
At the time, some social-media users questioned why a young model would place permanent lettering on his face. Others suggested that he might eventually regret the decision.
Gerber pushed back against those reactions and said that people commenting on the tattoo did not know how he felt or what was happening in his mind.
His response became part of the tattoo story itself. The conversation was no longer simply about body art. It also involved Gerber’s explanation of what the word meant to him personally.
How Did People React to the Face Tattoo?
The tattoo generated significant attention online almost immediately.
Some social-media users criticized the decision because facial tattoos can be difficult to hide and may have lasting consequences for a person’s appearance and professional opportunities. Others simply questioned why Gerber had chosen such a visible location.
Gerber responded directly to some of the criticism through Instagram.
In February 2020, he defended the decision and emphasized that he understood what he was doing. His comments were widely reported by entertainment publications covering the controversy.
The reaction intensified again in March 2020 after Gerber posted an Instagram Story comparing criticism of his face tattoo with criticism of cosmetic and gender-related procedures. That comparison itself generated additional backlash and became a separate part of the broader social-media controversy.
For purposes of understanding the tattoo, however, the central fact remains straightforward: Gerber deliberately chose the word “Misunderstood,” explained that it reflected how he felt, and defended his choice when people criticized it.
Did Presley Gerber Have Another Face Tattoo?
A second apparent face tattoo caused another wave of online attention in March 2020.
Gerber posted a photograph that appeared to show a large design on the side of his face. Some viewers interpreted the design as a star or an image resembling the Los Angeles Dodgers logo.
However, Gerber later clarified that the apparent tattoo was not permanent ink.
He explained through Instagram Stories that the image had been created using a filter. Contemporary reporting from Us Weekly and E! News documented the clarification.
That distinction is important because online searches can still produce references to multiple Presley Gerber face tattoos. The “Misunderstood” tattoo was genuine. The later design that appeared in a social-media image was a digital effect rather than another permanent facial tattoo.
When Was the Presley Gerber Face Tattoo Removed?
The “Misunderstood” tattoo appeared to have disappeared by 2021.
In August 2021, Gerber was photographed in Malibu without the lettering that had previously been visible beneath his eye. Entertainment Tonight and E! News reported that the tattoo appeared to have been removed. A faint mark was visible where the ink had previously been.
At that point, reports generally described the removal as something that appeared to have happened rather than a fully confirmed statement from Gerber.
Recent coverage provides a more definitive answer.
In a 2023 appearance on the Studio 22 podcast, Gerber discussed his tattoo history and explicitly said that he had gotten a face tattoo and then had it removed. Later coverage in 2025 again highlighted that statement when revisiting the history of the “Misunderstood” tattoo.
That later admission removes much of the uncertainty surrounding the 2021 photographs.
What Did Presley Gerber Say About Removing It?
During his 2023 Studio 22 appearance, Gerber confirmed that he had a face tattoo and subsequently removed it.
He described it as the last major visible tattoo he received, adding that he had essentially run out of space for more prominent tattoos. The conversation also touched on his broader history with tattoos and how early he had started getting body art.
His comments are significant because earlier reports could only describe the facial ink as apparently removed.
By 2023, Gerber himself had confirmed that the tattoo was gone.
Therefore, claims that he continued to permanently wear the “Misunderstood” tattoo after that point do not match his own later account.
Was the “Misunderstood” Tattoo Permanent?
Yes. The original “Misunderstood” tattoo was genuine permanent body art.
Gerber showed the tattooing process in 2020, and photographs taken afterward showed the lettering on his cheek. It was not simply an Instagram filter or temporary effect.
The confusion comes partly from the second apparent face tattoo that appeared later in 2020. That image was created with a filter, according to Gerber.
The distinction can be summarized simply:
| Face design | Real tattoo? | What happened? |
|---|---|---|
| “MISUNDERSTOOD” | Yes | Later removed |
| Star/“LA”-style design shown online in 2020 | No | Gerber said it was an Instagram filter |
This distinction is particularly useful for readers searching for photographs or information about Gerber’s facial tattoos.
What Happened to the Tattoo After Removal?
Photographs from 2021 showed Gerber without the prominent lettering. A faint mark was visible in the area where the tattoo had been, suggesting that the removal process had taken place or was underway.
Gerber later confirmed that he had removed it.
There is no verified need to assume a particular removal method. Some online discussions have speculated about laser removal, but the available reporting does not establish the precise procedure Gerber used.
For that reason, claims that he definitely used a particular tattoo-removal technique should be treated cautiously unless supported by a direct statement from Gerber or another authoritative source.
The confirmed facts are enough: the tattoo existed, it was visible in 2020, it was absent from public photographs by 2021, and Gerber later said that he had it removed.
What Did the Tattoo Mean to Presley Gerber?
The meaning is best understood through Gerber’s own explanation.
He said that he chose the word because he did not feel understood. That explanation gives the tattoo a personal meaning rather than suggesting that it was simply a fashion statement.
The timing also matters. Gerber was 20 when he received the tattoo, and the decision became a major subject of online discussion because of its prominent placement.
Rather than describing the word as a tribute, slogan or reference to another person, Gerber connected it to his own feelings.
That is the clearest documented explanation of the tattoo’s meaning.
Presley Gerber Face Tattoo and His Tattoo History
The facial tattoo was only one part of Gerber’s much larger collection of body art.
During his 2023 podcast appearance, he discussed getting his first tattoo at 15. He described having started collecting tattoos when he was very young and later reaching a point where he stopped adding large, visible pieces as frequently.
The “Misunderstood” tattoo therefore fits into a broader history of tattoos rather than representing his first experience with body art.
What made it different was its location.
His other tattoos could generally be covered depending on clothing. The cheek lettering was immediately visible whenever he appeared without anything covering that portion of his face.
That visibility helped turn a small tattoo into a major entertainment story.
What Is the Latest Confirmed Update?
The most important current fact is that the “Misunderstood” face tattoo is no longer on Gerber’s face.
The tattoo was introduced in February 2020. Public sightings indicated that it had disappeared by August 2021. Gerber later confirmed its removal during a 2023 podcast appearance. Recent reporting has continued to identify the tattoo as a removed part of his past.
Gerber died on September 20, 2026, at age 27, according to his family representative and Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records. Current reporting says an autopsy is pending and that the cause of death had not been disclosed at the time of publication.
That recent news has prompted renewed searches for details about different periods of Gerber’s life, including the highly publicized facial tattoo he received six years earlier.
It is important, however, not to connect the tattoo to his death without evidence. Current reporting does not establish any relationship between the removed tattoo and his death.
The Lasting Story Behind the Ink
The “Misunderstood” tattoo remains one of the most recognizable moments in Presley Gerber’s tattoo history. He chose a single word, placed it prominently beneath his eye, explained why it mattered to him, defended the decision when it attracted criticism, and eventually removed it.
The progression is documented across several years: the tattoo appeared in 2020, photographs showed it disappearing in 2021, and Gerber later confirmed that he had removed it.
For anyone searching for Presley Gerber face tattoo, the answer is therefore straightforward. The famous “Misunderstood” lettering was real, it reflected how Gerber said he felt at the time, and it was ultimately removed.
If you remember the “Misunderstood” tattoo or have a different detail about Presley Gerber’s tattoo history, share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for verified updates.