UPDATE: A travel influencer has ignited a firestorm of outrage after posting a shocking video that shows him throwing his young son off a cliff during a family outing. The incident, which took place on July 12, 2023, at Lake Powell—a scenic area straddling Utah and Arizona—has stirred intense backlash across social media platforms.
Garrett Gee, known as the head of The Bucket List Family, filmed the controversial moment while on a family holiday. Gee, who gained fame after selling his mobile scanning app for $54 million to Snapchat, has built a brand around family travel, documenting their adventures in over 90 countries. However, this latest video has raised serious questions about parenting and child safety.
In the clip, which begins with a disclaimer indicating that “most people won’t love how we teach our kids how to cliff jump,” Gee is seen instructing his youngest son, Calihan “Cali” Gee, on cliff diving. As Cali hesitates at the edge, Gee hoists him up and tosses him into the water below, while Cali screams during the fall. The video then transitions to his older children, Dorothy and Manilla, jumping off the cliff together.
Despite Gee’s attempt to provide context, stating, “This is NOT parental advice,” the backlash has been swift and severe. Critics have expressed concern about the dangers of cliff diving and the message it sends about child safety. One commenter questioned, “Did he know he was going to be thrown?” to which Gee responded, “YES. He had the choice… He chose to be thrown.”
Gee defended his actions, claiming that the toss was a calculated decision made with safety in mind. He explained, “He wanted to jump but was not feeling confident… I threw him,” likening the experience to a baby eagle being nudged from its nest. “Eventually a baby eagle needs to leave the nest… or be tossed out of the nest 😉 and learn HE CAN FLY!” he wrote.
Despite some support for his parenting style—one commenter praised the approach as a way to teach courage—many others deemed it “negligent and irresponsible.” Critics emphasized the potential dangers, with one stating, “Cliff jumping is very very dangerous! Ask an ER doctor or nurse.”
In response to the increasing backlash, Gee made a light-hearted comment, saying, “Eh, that’s basically everything on the internet these days ;),” but he also concluded his post with a warning about parenting: “But warning: teaching your kids to be brave starts to backfire when they become older and begin jumping from heights that you don’t even dare! BE SAFE OUT THERE! YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS! HAVE FUN!”
As the debate continues, many parents and child safety advocates are calling for more responsible content from influencers, especially when it involves children. The incident raises crucial questions about the influence of social media on parenting practices and the responsibilities that come with sharing potentially dangerous activities online.
This story is developing, and more reactions are expected as the video continues to circulate widely on social media platforms. Stay tuned for updates as this situation unfolds.
