It was a loss that shook Hollywood — and broke the hearts of one of its most private families.
Investigators have made progress regarding the overdose death of actor Robert De Niro’s grandson, Leandro Anthony De Niro-Rodriguez. The 19-year-old was found unconscious in his apartment on July 2, 2023, and authorities have since revealed new details about what led to his tragic passing.
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, from a post dated September 2, 2023 | Source: Instagram/drenadeniro/
Five Men Accused of Selling Fentanyl-Laced Pills to Teens
Nearly half a dozen people have now been arrested in connection with the drugs linked to Leandro’s death, according to court filings. Five men, Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, Grant McIver, John Nicolas, and Roy Nicolas, face charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death.
The case involves Leandro, the only child of Robert’s eldest daughter, Drena De Niro, as well as two other teenagers. Prosecutors allege the group promoted and sold drugs across New York City and parts of Long Island through social media.
They distributed thousands of counterfeit Xanax pills that were tainted with fentanyl and sold to young adults and teens. According to federal authorities, three 19-year-olds, including Leandro, died from fentanyl-laced pills within a three-month period during the summer of 2023.
His Death After Just Two Days in the New Apartment
The NYPD confirmed that officers discovered Leandro unresponsive after responding to a 911 call to Wall Street in Lower Manhattan. The teen, who had recently celebrated his 19th birthday, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, from a post dated January 1, 2024 | Source: Instagram/drenadeniro/
Prosecutors revealed that Leandro had just relocated to New York to begin a theater internship on Broadway, following his high school graduation in Aspen, Colorado. He had been living in his new apartment for only two days before his death.
The New York City medical examiner’s office ruled the death accidental, citing the toxic effects of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine, and cocaine as the cause.
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, from a post dated January 1, 2024 | Source: Instagram/drenadeniro/
Drena De Niro’s Devastating Tribute
Drena confirmed her son’s passing, sharing a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram. She wrote, “My beautiful sweet angel. I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly. You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life. I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you.”
She continued, “I don’t know how to live without you but I’ll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama. You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you 😞 I’m so sorry my baby, I’m so sorry @carlosmare 😢💔. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy 🙏🏽💔💔💔💔💔🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️.”
Robert De Niro Breaks His Silence on the Tragic Loss
Robert also shared that he felt an overwhelming sense of disbelief when he first learned about his grandson’s death. “It’s just a shock. [I] never thought it would happen,” he acknowledged.
Drena and Robert De Niro pose at the 19th Annual Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on November 1, 2015 | Source: Getty Images
The movie star added, “And I just then started thinking about all the things I could have, should have done maybe with him. I don’t know if that would’ve made a difference. And so that’s always playing through my mind.”
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, from a post dated April 2, 2023 | Source: Instagram/drenadeniro/
Robert De Niro also wrote a statement, “I’m deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo. We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo.”
The 82-year-old said that the circumstances leading to Leandro’s passing should have never happened. Drena also spoke out on the same, “Someone sold him fentanyl laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him. So for all these people still [expletive] around selling and buying this [expletive], my son is gone forever.”
Another Famous Teen Victim: Daughter of Blondie Co-Founder Also Dead
Another victim connected to the same drug network being prosecuted in Leandro’s case was identified as Akira Stein. Akira is the daughter of Chris Stein, guitarist and co-founder of the band Blondie alongside Debbie Harry.
The teenager died of an overdose on May 30, 2023, in Lower Manhattan after taking pills allegedly supplied by brothers John and Roy Nicolas. Her father, Chris, later shared on Instagram that arrests had been made in connection with his daughter’s death.
He noted that law enforcement had been compassionate and professional throughout the investigation and expressed gratitude for the possibility of achieving justice for Akira.
A Promising Career Ended Before It Began
Leandro Anthony De Niro-Rodriguez’s death came as a deep shock to his parents and grandfather, as he had only just begun to carve out his place in the entertainment industry.
He already had a few acting credits to his name, appearing in three projects alongside his mother: 2005’s “The Collection,” 2018’s “Cabaret Maxime,” and “A Star Is Born.”
In Bradley Cooper’s remake, the pair portrayed a mother and son — the wife and child of Dave Chappelle’s character. Now, his family holds on to the hope that justice will be served for a life that ended far too soon.
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’16 and Pregnant’ Star Whitney Purvis Arrested – Details
07:34 A.M.
The 33-year-old, who appeared on MTV’s “16 & Pregnant,” has been arrested in connection with a fatal drug overdose, just weeks after losing her 16-year-old son.
Former MTV reality star Whitney Purvis was taken into custody on July 7, 2025, by Floyd County sheriff’s deputies on charges of involuntary manslaughter related to a fatal drug overdose. TMZ reports that online records show that Purvis had intentionally distributed a dangerous drug combination known as Tranq, which caused the death of 37-year-old John Mark Harris.
Whitney Purvis posing for a selfie in front of a patterned backdrop, dated April 29, 2024 | Source: Instagram/nurvispurvis_
According to law enforcement, Tranq, which is a mixture of fentanyl and xylazine, led to Harris experiencing a lethal overdose. He died on February 17, 2025, at his residence in Rome, Georgia.
Harris was a graduate of Darlington School and worked as a chef at Barnsley Gardens. His family described him as someone who “was always authentic” and was known for his infectious smile and willingness to help others.
Purvis now faces the involuntary manslaughter charge along with two additional drug-related charges, including possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The arrest comes during an incredibly difficult time for the reality star, who recently lost her teenage son, Weston Owen Gosa, on June 2, 2025.
In an emotional Facebook post, she shared her devastating grief, writing, “My beautiful son, Weston has passed away. He was only 16 years old. Life is so cruel and unfair. I just don’t understand. Oh my baby is gone and I don’t know what to do with myself.”
She continued, “I would do anything just to hold him. Words just can’t describe the pain I am feeling.” The tragedy surrounding her son’s death was made worse when Purvis arrived late to his funeral service and was denied entry. According to reports, she arrived at the Georgia funeral home shortly after 4:15 p.m., only to find that the service had already commenced and the doors to the chapel were locked.
According to TMZ, funeral home staff reportedly turned Purvis away because she was not on the guest list. However, her ex-partner, Weston Gosa Sr., made a different claim, stating that he had informed everyone coming to the funeral that the viewing was from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., with the service beginning at 4 p.m. sharp, and that Purvis was listed on the guest list.
Purvis’ son’s death certificate listed his cause of death as natural causes. The teenager was born on April 2, 2009, and his passing left his mother devastated. In her Facebook tribute, Purvis wrote: “I was so proud of the young man you were becoming. I just can’t go on without you. Rest in Peace, my angel. You are gone too soon.”
Purvis gained fame as a teenager on MTV’s “16 & Pregnant,” a reality show that documented young mothers dealing with unexpected pregnancies and early parenthood. Over the years, however, she faced legal issues on three occasions for offenses such as stealing a pregnancy test, causing damage to electronic items, and not fulfilling her child support obligations.
As for the involuntary manslaughter charge, the case remains under investigation, and Purvis has not yet publicly responded to the charges or made any statements through legal representation as of the time of publication. Meanwhile, another arrest in a small community in Ohio has left a lot of people shocked.
On July 1, 2025, authorities in Adams County, Ohio, responded to a 911 call about an unresponsive child. Upon arriving at the scene, a 2-year-old girl was found lifeless, with signs of suffocation. The child’s mother and her boyfriend were immediately detained on child endangerment charges.
Tien Hawkins, a 25-year-old mother of three, and her boyfriend, 23-year-old Brian Moser (also known as Terry Smith III), were taken to Adams County Jail.
The 911 call was made at approximately 9:08 a.m. The caller reported an unresponsive 2-year-old at the Timber Ridge Apartment Complex in the village of West Union, 55 miles southeast of Cincinnati.
Deputies from the sheriff’s office and EMTs from local fire and emergency departments determined that the child wasn’t breathing. She was pronounced dead at the scene by the Adams County Coroner’s Office.
Her remains were transported to Montgomery County for an autopsy. The coroner determined the cause of death to have been suffocation, though details about when and how are still unknown.
The 2-year-old victim, from a post dated June 26, 2025. | Source: facebook.com/tien.hawkins
According to Aaron Haslam, prosecutor for Adams County, the child’s death has not been classified as a homicide yet. However, additional charges may be pressed depending on the outcome of the investigation.
Authorities were alerted to the incident when Moser called 911, saying, “I believe that my stepchild is dead (…) I don’t know if they suffocated last night, or what’s going. There’s no way that — I don’t know. I don’t know. She’s dead. I just woke up and found her.”
The victim with her older and younger sisters sharing a bed, from a post dated June 26, 2025. | Source: facebook.com/tien.hawkins
Upon arrival, officers also found two other children in the residence — the victim’s 1-year-old and 5-year-old sisters, both visibly injured. Haslam said authorities intend to take their statements to determine the cause of these injuries.
The investigation is ongoing. “Whether a true act or just an accident, we don’t know at this point, but the bottom line is a two-year-old child has been lost and our prayers go out to the family,” said Adams County Sheriff Kenneth Dick.
The victim and her older sister in colorful facepaint, posing before a wooden fence, from a post dated June 26, 2025. | Source: facebook.com/tien.hawkins
The local community spoke fondly of the victim. “She was sweet. She was just a cute little sweet girl who loved to play outside and always had a smile on her face. Very sweet,” recalled neighbor Kelie Proffitt.
Another neighbor, Ciara Thurman, used to watch the children and remembers rocking the victim to sleep, “It hurts. She had the biggest heart, you know, biggest soul. Just smiley, happy,” said Thurman.
Brian Moser and the victim’s younger sister smile in a selfie taken in a kitchen, from a post dated June 26, 2025. | Source: facebook.com/tien.hawkins
Thurman worked together with Hawkins at a local McDonald’s. Moser was also employed at the same establishment. Regarding Moser, Thurman said that “he seemed pretty decent. Like, he just, he seemed like he loved the girls.”
The surviving children were placed in the care of Child Protective Services. Their injuries were not life-threatening. Hawkins and Moser are scheduled to appear in court, while authorities await toxicological results and other reports.
Just one day before calling 911, on June 30, Moser completed the process of legally changing his name (from Terry Smith III to Brian Moser).
He shared the news on his Facebook page that Sunday, around 3 p.m. His post also referenced an unspecified legacy that he wished to distance himself from by changing his name.
“It’s official! My new name is Brian Moser. I couldn’t be more happier [sic] to get rid of that awful legacy I was bound to,” wrote Moser on Facebook. That same day, and also on Facebook, Hawkins shared a satirical post from online comedian Tiaeshia, which referenced the ease with which children accidentally bump their heads.
In the post, Tiaeshia wonders about the source of a loud noise, then writes “My kids.” Attached to the post was a picture of a young girl with a lime-sized bump in the middle of her forehead. A few days earlier, on June 26, Hawkins shared a post that she captioned “picture updates of the girls,” with dozens of photos of the children.
Moser commented on the post: “I love raising these girls with you my love.” Hawkins replied with “thank you for everything you do for us honey.”
The investigation into the tragic death of the two-year-old girl continues. We extend our deepest sympathies to the grieving family in this difficult time.
More Than a Movie Icon: The Person Who Called Diane Keaton ‘Mom’ — Celebrities Pay Tribute
07:19 A.M.
Hollywood mourns the incomparable Diane Keaton with gut-wrenching tributes, outlining how much Keaton meant to them, after the beloved star died at 79.
Diane Keaton, the quirky, brilliant, completely irreplaceable actress who defined decades of film and fashion, has passed away, leaving behind a legacy that has every corner of Tinseltown in mourning.
Now, some of the most famous names in the world — from Jane Fonda and Robert De Niro to Reese Witherspoon, Rita Wilson, Mandy Moore, who saw Keaton as a mother, and more — are speaking out in raw, emotional detail about the woman who touched their lives.
‘She Was Always a Spark of Life’: Jane Fonda Expresses Her Grief with a Soulful Goodbye
Fonda’s dedication echoed both sorrow and awe. Sharing a radiant photo of Keaton — dressed in her signature eclectic style and joyfully tipping her hat beside a golden retriever — Fonda wrote, “It’s hard to believe… or accept… that Diane has passed.” Her caption painted a vivid portrait of Keaton’s unmistakable essence.
“She was always a spark of life and light, constantly giggling at her own foibles, being limitlessly creative…in her acting, her wardrobe, her books, her friends, her homes, her library, her world view [sic],” the silver screen icon expressed.
Fonda emphasized what many already knew yet still found impossible to articulate — Keaton’s singularity. “Unique is what she was,” she added, before delivering a quiet but powerful acknowledgment of Keaton’s craft — “And, though she didn’t know it or wouldn’t admit it, man [sic] she was a fine actress!”
‘I Was Not Expecting Her to Leave Us’: Robert De Niro Speaks Out
Meanwhile, De Niro expressed his grief in a solemn statement shared with ABC News. “I am very sad to hear of Diane’s passing,” he said.
“I was very fond of her and the news of her leaving us has taken me totally by surprise,” he continued. “I was not expecting her to leave us. She will be missed. May she rest in peace.”
Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton at the “Silver Linings Playbook” event in Los Angeles, California on December 7, 2012. | Source: Getty Images
Mandy Moore Mourns Deeply for Her Screen Mother
Moore’s words about Keaton resonated deeply — not only for what she said, but for how she said it. Sharing two heartwarming images on Instagram — one of her and Keaton laughing joyously on the red carpet, the other a cozy scene from “Because I Said So,” where the two played mother and daughter — Moore offered a glimpse into the bond they shared on and off screen.
“They say don’t meet your heroes,” she began, “but I got to work with one of mine and even call her ‘mom’ for a few months.” Moore painted Keaton as a woman who left a permanent mark. “An honor of a lifetime. What an incandescent human Di is and was,” Moore marveled.
Mandy Moore and Diane Keaton at the premiere for “Because I Said So” in Los Angeles, California in 2007. | Source: Getty Images
“I am so sad she’s gone for all the reasons,” she added, “but also because it felt like she’d be here forever, dazzling us with her talent and charm (and her style, c’mon)!!! One of the very best to ever do it.”
Mandy Moore and Diane Keaton embracing each other while smiling for photos. | Source: Getty Images
As she closed by extending love to Keaton’s children and family, Moore captured what so many others had tried to express: that Keaton was never just a star — she was family, even to those who only knew her for a moment.
Mandy Moore and Diane Keaton having a great time at the premiere for “Because I Said So.” | Source: Getty Images
‘She Was a Craftsman’: Rita Wilson Honors Diane Keaton’s Artistry, Motherhood, and Soul
Taking to Instagram to honor Keaton, Wilson offered perhaps one of the most sweeping and heartfelt tributes shared thus far.
Alongside a carousel of touching images — including snapshots of Keaton beaming alongside Wilson, embracing dogs, and striking goofy and introspective poses in her youth — Wilson captured the multifaceted legacy of a woman she described as both luminous and deeply grounded.
Diane Keaton and Rita Wilson with Nia Vardalos at the STXfilms “POMS” special screening in Los Angeles, California on May 7, 2019. | Source: Getty Images
“Every time I met Diane [sic] she was laughing, smiling, creating, observing, reflecting,” Wilson penned, before praising Keaton’s unmatched versatility, stating, “Her work as an artist is simply outstanding.”
Wilson went on to recall being spellbound by Keaton’s vulnerable performance on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” noting the rare honesty she exuded even in unscripted moments.
Diane Keaton laughing and embracing a dog as another dog looks at something beside the two, posted on October 11, 2025. | Source: Instagram/ritawilson
More than just a performer, Wilson highlighted Keaton’s deep reverence for beauty and preservation — particularly her passion for restoring architecturally significant homes. “She was a craftsman,” Wilson said, weaving artistry through her roles and her life.
She also touched on Keaton’s later-in-life journey into motherhood, which the actress embraced with fierce independence and love. “Diane was determined to be a mom and did so, on her own,” Wilson asserted, naming the two children Keaton adopted — as part of her enduring legacy.
A nostalgic photo of Diane Keaton. | Source: Instagram/ritawilson
The tribute concluded with a tender blessing, “My prayers are with Diane’s loved ones and her children. May her memory be eternal.”
Reese Witherspoon Remembers Diane Keaton as One of Her First Mentors
Another dedication came from Witherspoon, who offered a tearful tribute that underscored Keaton’s role as a guiding light for younger generations of women in Hollywood.
Speaking candidly in an emotional video shared on Instagram, Witherspoon appeared visibly shaken as she recalled the early days of her career — and the pivotal role Keaton played in them. “Diane was really important,” she began, pausing to gather herself. “She was one of my first mentors in this business.”
Reese Witherspoon recalling her memories of Diane Keaton while getting emotional at an event, posted on October 11, 2025. | Source: Instagram/reesewitherspoon
Witherspoon, just 15 at the time of their first meeting, remembered walking into one of her earliest auditions with a thick Southern accent and big dreams. “She goes, ‘Who are you?’ I said, ‘I’m Reese Witherspoon, and I’m from Nashville, Tennessee,'” Witherspoon recalled. What came next was pure Keaton — spontaneous, warm, and completely disarming.
After asking if Witherspoon’s southern twang was actually the way she spoke or whether she was faking it, Witherspoon stated, “No, ma’am, I’m from Nashville, Tennessee, and I’m here, and I’d love to be in your movie.”
Reese Witherspoon recalling her first meeting with Diane Keaton during an audition. | Source: Instagram/reesewitherspoon
“Well, you’re hired,” Keaton told the young actress. “You’re hired today, tomorrow, and the next day.” That encounter would leave a lasting imprint on Witherspoon, who described Keaton as “incredible, and indelible, and just a truly original person.”
In a moment that blended grief with celebration, she encouraged fans to honor Keaton’s legacy in a way the late actress would have loved — by watching one of her films, donning a bold outfit, and embracing individuality without apology. “Just be your unique, interesting self,” Witherspoon said, her voice quivering. “I think Diane would be really happy.”
Witherspoon’s caption echoed that same admiration — “Diane Keaton changed the way we all saw women on screen — smart, funny, stylish, and completely original. I’m so grateful to have had her as a mentor 🤍.”
Even More Stars Speak Out: ‘A Revolutionary Actor,’ and ‘A Trail of Fairy Dust’
The emotional tributes didn’t stop there. Julia Louis-Dreyfus shared a striking black-and-white portrait of Keaton when she was younger that exuded poise and quiet defiance.
Her caption, though brief, carried the weight of reverence, as Louis-Dreyfus noted, “She was a revolutionary actor, both comedically and dramatically. She was a singular artist. I am so grateful to her and may she rest in peace.”
While many remember Keaton for her grace and artistry, Steve Martin chose to celebrate her wit — a trait that made her as beloved off-screen as she was on it.
Sharing a screenshot from a past Interview Magazine conversation with Martin Short, Martin posted a hilariously candid exchange in which Keaton’s trademark deadpan humor stole the spotlight. “Don’t know who first posted this, but it sums up our delightful relationship with Diane,” he wrote in the caption.
Where Martin honored Keaton’s quick wit, Goldie Hawn turned inward, sharing a tribute rooted in memory, grief, and enduring sisterhood. Alongside a glowing black-and-white image of Keaton smiling beneath a wide-brim hat, Hawn poured out a love letter laced with sorrow.
“Diane, we aren’t ready to lose you,” she started. “You’ve left us with a trail of fairy dust, filled with particles of light and memories beyond imagination.” The two had formed a bond during their time filming “The First Wives Club,” a connection Hawn revisited with vivid warmth.
“I was blessed to make ‘First Wives Club’ with you, our days starting with coffee in the makeup trailer, laughing and joking, right through to the very last day of filming,” Hawn reflected. She also reminisced about the pact they once made — to grow old together, perhaps even live under the same roof with a tribe of their closest girlfriends.
Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton at the 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles, California in 2005. | Source: Getty Images
“Well, we never got to live together,” Hawn admitted, “but we did grow older together.” Her parting words were as whimsical as they were heartbreaking, “Shine your fairy dust up there, girlfriend. I’m going to miss the hell out of you.”
Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn at the 9th Annual Hollywood Film Festival Awards Gala Ceremony in Beverly Hills, California in 2005. | Source: Getty Images
‘An Icon of Style, Humor and Comedy’: More Film and Music Stars Join In
Sharing a radiant photo of Keaton smiling brightly in a pearl-accented necklace and glasses, Belinda Carlisle recalled her personal connection to the star — one rooted in music. Keaton had directed two of Carlisle’s most iconic music videos, “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” and “I Get Weak.”
From musicians to fellow actors, the tributes continued to roll in — each one offering another facet of Keaton’s legacy. Ben Stiller kept his words simple yet profound. Posting on X, he wrote, “Diane Keaton. One of the greatest film actors ever. An icon of style, humor and [sic] comedy. Brilliant. What a person.”
Stiller’s praise for Keaton’s brilliance was echoed by a tender reflection from Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who starred alongside Keaton in the beloved “Father of the Bride” films.
Sharing two heartwarming stills from their time on set — one capturing uncontainable laughter, the other a quiet, intimate hospital scene — Williams-Paisley penned, “Diane, working with you will always be one of the highlights of my life.”
Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Diane Keaton laughing together, posted on October 11, 2025. | Source: Instagram/kimberlywilliamspaisley
“Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, your talent, and above all, your laughter. 🙏🏻🕊️💔❤️❤️❤️,” expressed Williams-Paisley.
Another heartfelt message came from Paul Feig. Posting on X, Feig highlighted, “I was so honored to call Diane Keaton a friend. She was an amazingly kind and creative person who also just happened to be a Hollywood legend.”
His words echoed a sentiment shared by many — that Keaton’s brilliance was matched only by her warmth. “She has been taken from us far too soon,” he continued. “We will miss you, Diane.”
The Final Curtain: One of Hollywood’s Brightest Stars Died at 79
As Hollywood continues to mourn and honor Keaton’s remarkable life, many are also reflecting on the details surrounding her passing — a moment that has left fans and loved ones reeling with disbelief and sorrow.
The endlessly charming, quirky, and trailblazing actress who lit up the screen for over five decades died on October 11, 2025, at 79 in California.
Born Diane Hall in Los Angeles in 1946, she was the eldest of four children. Her father was a civil engineer, and her mother — whose maiden name, Keaton, she later adopted — was a homemaker.
Further details about the star’s death have not been shared, and her family has asked for privacy as they mourn the loss of one of cinema’s most beloved voices. Hollywood may never recover, and will certainly never forget the force that was Diane Keaton.
At this time, we wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to Keaton’s kids, her family, loved ones, friends, colleagues, and all who knew and loved her as they mourn such a significant loss. We hope for their healing amid their time of grief. RIP, dear Keaton.
Priscilla Presley Breaks Silence About Helping Her Son Navarone Overcome Drug Addiction
11:00 A.M.
“Mom, I’m hurting”: Priscilla Presley recounts harrowing details behind her son’s drug withdrawal, as well as heartbreaking reflections about her daughter’s tragic death.
In a gut-wrenching new interview, Priscilla Presley has lifted the lid on the emotional rollercoaster of motherhood — detailing the agonizing nights she spent watching her son fight addiction, and the unbearable pain of losing her only daughter.
The Hollywood icon, 80, spoke exclusively to People magazine, opening up about how she supported her son Navarone Garibaldi through a devastating battle with drugs. However, the reception she received online was less than pleasant for the most part. Many were quick to compare her response to Navarone’s crisis with the tragic fate of her daughter, Lisa Marie Presley.
‘Mom, I’m Hurting’: The Five-Night Battle to Save Navarone Garibaldi
Recalling her son’s desperate spiral, Priscilla didn’t hold back. “He had some issues going through a bad, bad time,” she said, revealing the emotional torment of watching Navarone try to claw his way out of addiction.
The turning point came when Navarone, exhausted and emotionally spent, came to her and stated, “Mom, I want to get off drugs. I don’t want to do this anymore. I don’t want to hurt you anymore[…] I lost some friends.”
Lisa Marie Presley speaking about her son’s addiction struggles and how she helped him, posted on September 18, 2025. | Source: Facebook/People
Without hesitation, Priscilla stepped in — becoming her son’s lifeline. “So he stayed at my home,” she continued, recounting how she slept beside her son every night as he endured the agony of withdrawal.
“And I don’t wish that on anyone, because there’s really nothing, you know, you can do. You can’t give him more drugs, that’s for sure. They have to go through it,” Priscilla explained.
She described the haunting sounds of Navarone’s withdrawal, “He’d move and, ‘Mom, Mom, I’m hurting, I’m hurting […] my legs hurt, my legs hurt.’ I get up and I rub his legs.”
There was nothing else to offer but a mother’s unconditional love. Night after night, she massaged his legs, watched him writhe in pain, and stayed strong while his body waged war against addiction.
“Now I know what it’s like with someone who goes through withdrawals, and it’s horrible […] And a lot of, you know, people can’t get through it and go right back to it,” she said.
Then — on the fifth day — the tide turned. “We made it,” Priscilla declared. “And it was like, my God, I never thought it was going to happen […] I’m really happy for him.” But the relief of one child’s recovery could not ease the ache of another’s absence.
‘Take Her off the Machine’: Priscilla Presley Relives the Horror of Lisa Marie Presley’s Final Moments
While Navarone’s story ended in healing, Priscilla’s memories of losing Lisa Marie are etched with trauma and despair.
“It was the second saddest day of my life, other than losing Elvis,” she revealed, still shaken more than a year after Lisa’s sudden passing in January 2023. The singer and mother of four died at 54 due to complications from a prior bariatric surgery.
But Lisa’s final hours weren’t a blur — they were agonizingly long. Priscilla got the call from Lisa’s ex-husband, Danny Keough, who had found her unresponsive at home.
“Lisa really wasn’t breathing, so she was on the ventilator,” she recalled. “For hours we were there waiting, hoping and praying until the doctor came in and said, ‘Priscilla, I’m so sorry, she’s gone.’ We just couldn’t believe it — didn’t want to believe it.”
In an early excerpt from her upcoming memoir, “Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis,” Priscilla paints a chilling portrait of the hours before Lisa’s death. “Her spirit, always so vital, wasn’t there,” she wrote. Family members trickled in as the hours passed, yet no amount of love or presence could bring Lisa back.
After Lisa flatlined for the first time during a code blue ordeal, doctors delivered a crushing truth: her heart could stop again at any moment, and if she survived, her quality of life would be severely impaired, as she would remain on the machine.
With unimaginable pain, Priscilla had to decide. “Take her off the machine, Doctor,” she whispered. “I don’t remember falling,” she penned. “I know that Ivy caught me. After that, everything went dark. I can’t remember. I don’t want to remember.”
Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley at the grand opening of “Graceland Presents ELVIS: The Exhibition – The Show – The Experience” in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 23, 2015. | Source: Getty Images
‘How Did She Help Her Daughter?’: The Internet Erupts with Fury
Priscilla’s raw recounting of Navarone’s recovery sparked a tidal wave of emotion online — but not all of it was supportive. Several netizens questioned the perceived disparity between how she helped Navarone and how she handled her late daughter’s struggles.
“Shame you did not do that for Lisa?” wrote a spectator, while another, plainly asked, “How did she help her daughter?”
Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley at the 14th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference in Nashville, Tennessee on September 20, 2013. | Source: Getty Images
Some were far more brutal. “We’re where you when Lisa Marie need you that most when she lost her daddy you abandon her [sic]?” expressed a commenter. In response, someone else countered, “Actually she took Lisa overseas to get away from the media!”
Some commenters took a broader, more critical view of the family’s generational struggles. “Your Daughter Your Grandson Your Son Preaching Priscilla Riley stay away From the Evil Granny 😢 [sic],” wrote a critic.
Another drew pointed connections as well, stating, “Her first husband Elvis = drug overdose Grandson Benjamin = drug overdose 🥺? Now her son [sic]??” Meanwhile, someone else also chimed in, disputing Priscilla’s version of Navarone’s sobriety journey by alleging, “He’s [sic] still drinks a lot and smokes […] All the time.”
Yet another observer suggested that the roots of addiction in the Presley-Garibaldi family were generational and circumstantial.
A Family Haunted by Addiction
Amid the online backlash, many pointed to Lisa’s own harrowing struggle with addiction — one she candidly addressed before her death. In her posthumous memoir “From Here to the Great Unknown,” completed by her daughter Riley Keough, Lisa revealed that her addiction to prescription painkillers began after the 2008 birth of her twins, Finley and Harper Lockwood.
“For a couple of years [sic] it was recreational and then it wasn’t,” she penned. “It was an absolute matter of addiction, withdrawal in the big leagues.”
Addiction had long haunted Lisa’s life. Her father, Elvis Presley, and ex-husband Michael Jackson both died of drug-related causes, and she experimented with substances as a teen. In 2020, her son Benjamin Keough’s suicide — another victim of addiction — devastated her.
Riley later shared that writing about “mom’s descent into addiction” — and Benjamin’s death — was “incredibly difficult.”
Years before her death, Lisa bravely went public about her addiction. In the 2019 foreword for “The United States of Opioids: A Prescription for Liberating a Nation in Pain,” she wrote, “I had never openly spoken in public about my own addiction to opioids and painkillers. I wasn’t sure that I was ready to share on such a personal topic.”
Still, she pushed forward, saying she hoped to help others by speaking out. “It is time for us to say goodbye to shame about addiction,” she declared, later adding, “I am writing this in the hope that I can play a small part in focusing attention on this terrible crisis.”
Despite her struggles, Lisa made it clear, at the time, that she was “grateful to be alive today.” Before she put her story into words, Lisa was already taking steps toward recovery.
In 2016, she checked into the exclusive Hills Treatment Center in Los Angeles to address her addiction to prescription pills. At the time, a source told Us Weekly, “She’s doing OK but needed to get this under control.” The facility, known for its high-end care and discretion, reportedly cost $400,000 a month — underscoring the seriousness of her commitment to healing.
But one loss was too great. In her recent interview with People, the Presley matriarch reflected on the devastating impact of Benjamin’s suicide — a tragedy from which Lisa never fully recovered.
“[Ben] was absolutely the love of her life,” Priscilla divulged. “She didn’t want to be here anymore [after his suicide]. She wanted to be with Ben.”
Despite Priscilla’s attempts to remind her daughter of the love and responsibility she still carried — especially for her youngest children — the weight of grief was overwhelming. “I’d tell her, ‘Lisa, you’ve got the twins. You have to take care of the twins.’ She tried. She really did,” disclosed Priscilla. But Lisa’s pain was all-consuming.Advertisement
Priscilla Presley Defends Herself as Rumors Swirl
As speculation and rumors continued to swirl in the wake of Lisa’s passing, Priscilla took a moment during her recent People interview to set the record straight — particularly about her relationship with her granddaughter, Riley.
“There’s been so much that’s untruthful out there — things like Elvis is still alive and hidden somewhere, all this stuff about how the family is battling,” she noted. “I want to clear some things up.”
“Riley and I have never had a problem,” Priscilla stated. “We’re very close. We support each other.” Reflecting on her bond with Lisa, Priscilla also dismissed any suggestion of longstanding strain.
“I know there’s a lot out there that I did this to Lisa, I did that to Lisa,” she referenced. “There’s a lot of people who didn’t want Lisa and I to be close. We were very close. Lisa could be hard-headed, but so could I sometimes. We had a lot of good times together [sic].”
Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley with Riley Keough at a Handprint Ceremony honoring them in Hollywood, California on June 21, 2022. | Source: Getty Images
Now, Priscilla Presley finds joy in watching Riley step into motherhood. “I love her babies,” she gushed. “I’m really happy for Riley. She’s got an amazing husband and two great children, so I’m happy for her very much.” With gratitude, she added, “That’s what makes me happy: knowing everyone is doing well. I feel I’m living a good life.”
