In March 2019, following her appearance in a Tommy Hilfiger show during Paris Fashion Week, Cleveland unexpectedly fell ill and was rushed to a French hospital. On March 23, she was informed by doctors that she had colon cancer. In the wake of the diagnosis, Cleveland's husband Paul Van Ravenstein set up the GoFundMe campaign to assist with medical expenses, as he explained to Page Six that his wife does not have any health insurance coverage.