Garrett Gee, the well-known travel influencer and founder of The Bucket List Family, has spoken out about the viral video that sparked outrage online. The video, which shows him tossing his 7-year-old son Calihan off a cliff into Lake Powell, led to widespread criticism and raised questions about parenting, safety, and adventure.
The Viral Cliff Jump Video(Influencer Responds as Video of Throwing 7-Year-Old Son)
In July 2025, a video of Garrett Gee went viral on social media. It showed him standing with his young son on a high cliff edge at Lake Powell. In the clip, Gee appears to give his son a motivational talk before picking him up and tossing him into the water below.
While the video was meant to capture a moment of encouragement, many viewers were shocked. Critics accused Gee of being reckless, calling the move dangerous and irresponsible parenting. The backlash spread quickly, turning into a major online controversy.
Garrett Gee Breaks His Silence
Table of Contents
In an interview with People Magazine, Garrett Gee finally addressed the criticism. He admitted that if someone watched only that clip without knowing his family’s journey, they might easily assume the worst.

“If somebody came across that video and had only seen that video, then I agree with them,” Gee explained. “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.”
Gee and his wife Jessica have built The Bucket List Family brand around travel, adventure, and parenting. For the past decade, they have shared daring activities and inspirational stories from around the world with their three children.
While adventure and thrill-seeking are at the core of their lifestyle, Garrett emphasized that their top priority is always safety. For him, helping children step outside their comfort zone is part of preparing them for life’s challenges.
“A small part of me felt sad when I would read the comments,” Gee shared. “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. That’s not the best way to live life.”
Teaching Lessons Through Adventure
Garrett Gee explained that cliff jumping was not a random act but part of a broader philosophy his family follows. He wrote in his original post:
“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 :)”
According to him, the experience was designed to teach his son courage, resilience, and joy — not recklessness.
Handling the Internet Backlash
Despite the storm of criticism, Garrett Gee says the backlash did not affect him deeply. He remains confident in his parenting style and the way he and his wife are raising their children.
“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 told People Magazine. “It didn’t affect me. I understand the nature of the internet.”
A Decade of The Bucket List Family

This year marked the 10-year anniversary of The Bucket List Family. Over the past decade, the Gee family has traveled the world, documented their adventures, and built a loyal following online. Their brand is recognized for blending family values with exciting challenges and unique destinations.
Reflecting on their journey, Garrett shared his gratitude for the lifestyle they’ve created.
READ ALSO- “IndiGo Passenger Salutes Specially-Abled Employee for Hassle-Free Check-In”
“As a dad, selfishly, I love the opportunity we’ve had to travel together. When we’re traveling, we get to be together as a family 24/7, doing different experiences and exploring new places together.”
Balancing Safety and Adventure
While the viral video may have raised questions, Garrett insists that his family does not encourage others to imitate their actions. He made it clear that every child is different, and their approach to parenting is personalized.
For the Gees, adventure is not just about thrill — it’s about growth, confidence, and shared family experiences. Safety remains the first priority, but they believe in gently pushing boundaries to help their children achieve more than they thought possible.

The Garrett Gee cliff video controversy highlights the clash between adventurous parenting and public perception. While many criticized the video as unsafe, others see it as a powerful lesson about courage and stepping beyond fears.
For Garrett and The Bucket List Family, the incident was not about reckless parenting but about teaching resilience and joy through adventure. As they continue their travels, their story raises an important question: How do parents balance safety with the freedom to let their children experience life’s challenges?











