Garrett Gee, the influencer dad behind The Bucket List Family, sparked major controversy this summer when he shared a jaw-dropping video of himself throwing his 7-year-old son off a cliff at Lake Powell. The clip shows Gee standing on the edge of the Arizona cliff with his son Calihan, offering what looks like a pep talk before scooping him up and launching him into the water below.
Thousands of viewers immediately accused Gee of reckless parenting, blasting him for “traumatizing” his child in the name of content. However, according to Gee, the now-viral video doesn’t tell the whole story of the Arizona lake moment. Speaking to PEOPLE, he explained his actions.
“If somebody came across that video and had only seen that video, then I agree with them. ‘Oh man, this looks terrible, and this father’s pushing their child too much.’ But anyone who has followed our journey for a longer time, they understand how thoughtful and cautious we are as parents.”
Garrett Gee Opens Up About Arizona Cliff Tossing Video
He insists it’s about balance. Safety first, courage second. “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,” he said. “That’s not the best way to live life.”
In his original post, he stressed that this wasn’t parenting advice, nor is it something he’s ever done with his other two children. “Each kid is quite different so the way we parent, discipline, and teach HOW TO CLIFF JUMP is quite different 🙂 For sure 1st priority is safety. 2nd is learning that YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS. 3rd is HAVE FUN :)”
Love it or hate it, this influencer dad isn’t losing sleep over the backlash. “I’m very confident in who me and my wife are as parents and our intentions and how careful, cautious and loving we are. It didn’t affect me. I understand the nature of the internet.”
“Just more proof that some people shouldn’t be parents,” one person commented online. “His son could have been seriously hurt or have serious psychological problems from this experience,” another wrote.
The Internet Still Isn’t Convinced
And honestly, he probably does. Gee’s family has spent the last decade documenting their adventures as The Bucket List Family, amassing millions of fans who tune in to watch them surf with sharks, sled in Italy, and scuba dive in tandem.
The project began back in 2015 when Snapchat bought Gee’s mobile scanning app for a jaw-dropping $54 million. He and his wife, Jessica, sold everything and took their kids traveling full-time. Since then, they’ve visited over 100 countries.
At the end of the day, Garrett Gee says his goal is simple: he doesn’t want people glued to screens. He wants them inspired to put the phone down and chase their own adventures, whether that’s halfway around the world or at a lake in Arizona.
Kendra Quinn 
Joshua Dale 
