A father and influencer has responded to intense online criticism after a video of him throwing his 7-year-old son off a cliff went viral.
Garrett Gee, the patriarch behind the the well-known The Bucket List Family, posted the controversial video in July 2025 during a family trip to Lake Powell – a reservoir which straddles the border between northern Arizona and southern Utah.
The clip shows Gee standing on a high cliff with his elementary-aged son, Calihan, who appears nervous, shielding his face and turning away from the edge.
Moments later, Gee lifts him up and tosses him into the water below, prompting immediate backlash across social media platforms.
Rather than responding defensively, the father-of-three acknowledged why people might be upset, while also doubling down on his parenting approach.
‘A small part of me felt sad when I would read the comments because you could tell how many people out there didn’t have the opportunity to be pushed by their parents to try new things and stayed within their comfort zone,’ he told People. ‘That’s not the best way to live life.’
Gee added that the online criticism didn’t affect him ‘negatively in any way.’
‘I’m very confident in who me and my wife are as parents and our intentions and how careful, cautious and loving we are,’ he explained. ‘It didn’t affect me. I understand the nature of the internet.’
The 35-year-old dad has since made it clear that the backlash hasn’t shaken him – and he’s encouraging anyone who saw the clip in isolation to explore more of the family’s content for a better understanding of his perspective.
‘If somebody came across that video and had only seen that video, then I agree with them,’ Gee said, adding, ‘but anyone who has followed our journey for a longer time, they understand how thoughtful and cautious we are as parents.’
And while his parenting methods may not be for everyone, Gee is unapologetically clear on his stance.
‘Teaching your kids to be brave starts to backfire when they become older and begin jumping from heights that you don’t even dare,’ he joked. ‘Be safe out there! You can do hard things! Have fun!’
Over the past decade, The Bucket List Family has traveled to over 100 countries, documenting everything from shark dives to sledding in Italy.
Gee first rose to prominence in 2015 after selling his app, Scan, to Snapchat for $54 million.
He and his wife Jessica, 39, later sold their belongings, left their home state of Utah, and began traveling full-time with their children – and their YouTube and Instagram channels have since drawn millions of followers.
For those considering a similar path, he advises starting small.
‘Go on a fun adventure in your own backyard and then something in your own region and just build from there to make sure it’s what you want to do,’ he said.
‘We went the extreme route and sold everything and left home. Luckily, we loved it, but it is not for everyone.’
