US influencer Garrett Gee reacts to backlash over viral cliff-jumping video with 7 year old son

Garrett Gee, a travel influencer and the creator of ‘The Bucket List Family’, has addressed criticism following a viral video of him throwing his 7-year-old son, Calihan, off a cliff into Lake Powell. The footage, which emerged in July, shows Gee encouraging Calihan before lifting and tossing him into the water below. The video has sparked mixed reactions online.

In the caption accompanying the video, Gee advised against imitating the stunt and noted that this method of parenting is not employed with his other children. He emphasized the importance of safety and stated that each child requires a different approach to activities like cliff jumping. “For sure, first priority is safety. Second is learning that you can do hard things. Third is have fun,” he wrote.

During an interview with People Magazine, Gee acknowledged that viewers who see only the video might misinterpret his intentions. He expressed disappointment over some comments, noting the potential lack of adventurous experiences in those who criticized him. Gee has traveled extensively with his family, sharing their experiences across more than 100 countries since gaining attention in 2015 after the acquisition of his mobile scanning app by Snapchat.