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 renowned The Bucket List Family, shared a contentious video in July 2025 during a family outing at Lake Powell, a reservoir spanning the border of northern Arizona and southern Utah.

The footage captures Gee on a tall cliff alongside his young son, Calihan, who seems anxious, shielding his face and stepping back 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.

He expressed, ‘It made me a bit sad reading the comments, as it showed how many people hadn’t had the chance to be encouraged by their parents to explore new experiences and stayed within their safety bubble,’ in a statement to People. ‘That’s not the ideal way to experience life.’

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

The father and influencer behind The Bucket List Family has responded to intense online criticism after a video of him throwing his 7-year-old son off a cliff went viral. Pictured: Garrett Gee with his wife, Jessica, and their three children, Dorothy, Manilla and Calihan 

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

‘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. 

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.’