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 head of The Bucket List Family, shared a contentious video in July 2025 while on a family vacation at Lake Powell, a reservoir along the border of northern Arizona and southern Utah.

The footage captures Gee on a towering cliff alongside his young son, Calihan, who looks anxious and shields his face, turning away from the precipice.

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.

Gee expressed, ‘A small part of me felt sad when I read the comments as it showed how many people weren’t encouraged by their parents to explore new experiences and remained within their comfort zones,’ in an interview with People. ‘That’s not the optimal way to navigate life.’

Gee added that the online criticism didn’t affect him ‘negatively in any way.’

The influencer and father from The Bucket List Family addressed intense online backlash following a viral video showing him tossing his 7-year-old son off a cliff. Depicted: Garrett Gee with his wife, Jessica, and their children, Dorothy, Manilla, and Calihan.

The video captures Gee on a towering cliff with his elementary-aged son, Calihan, who appears nervous, shielding his face and turning away from the edge.

‘I have strong confidence in my wife and myself as parents, our intentions, and our cautious, careful, and affectionate nature,’ Gee stated. ‘It didn’t bother me. I recognize the dynamics 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. 

The clip sparked backlash across social media platforms – and rather than responding defensively, the father-of-three acknowledged why people might be upset, while also doubling down on his parenting approach

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

Over the past decade, The Bucket List Family has traveled to over 100 countries, documenting everything from shark dives to sledding in Italy (pictured)

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.’