UPDATE: Outrage is surging across social media after travel influencer Garrett Gee shared a shocking video of him throwing his young son off a cliff during a family trip. The incident occurred on July 12, 2023, at Lake Powell, which straddles Utah and Arizona, igniting a firestorm of criticism and concern for child safety.
Gee, aged 35, is the head of the popular travel clan known as The Bucket List Family. He gained fame in 2015 after selling his mobile scanning app, Scan, to Snapchat for $54 million. The family has since documented their adventures across more than 90 countries, but this latest upload has drawn fierce backlash.
In the controversial video, Gee instructs his youngest son, Calihan “Cali” Gee, in cliff diving, despite a clear disclaimer stating, “Most people won’t love how we teach our kids how to cliff jump.” As Cali hesitates at the cliff’s edge, his father hoists him up and tosses him into the water below, capturing Cali’s screams during the fall. The video then cuts to the family’s two older children, Dorothy and Manilla, jumping off together.
“This is NOT parental advice. This is NOT something I advise you try,” Gee wrote, acknowledging the potential for backlash.
Despite his efforts to clarify the situation, including stating that the height was selected with safety in mind, the outrage continued. Critics slammed the act as negligent and irresponsible, with one commenter questioning whether Cali was aware he would be thrown. Gee replied, “YES. He had the choice… He chose to be thrown.”
One commenter raised alarms about the dangers of cliff diving, prompting calls for accountability from parents. “Cliff jumping is very very dangerous! Ask an ER doctor or nurse,” they warned. Another user accused Gee of prioritizing views over family safety, saying, “This is about the dad, not about the emotional safety and wellbeing of the family.”
In response to the intense backlash, Gee attempted to maintain a light-hearted tone, stating, “Eh, that’s basically everything on the internet these days ;)” He concluded with a message of caution, saying, “But warning: teaching your kids to be brave starts to backfire when they become older and begin jumping from heights that you don’t even dare.” Yet, some commenters praised his approach to parenting, arguing that facing fears is a valuable lesson for children.
This incident raises urgent questions about the responsibilities of influencers and the potential impact of their actions on children. As the video continues to circulate, many are left wondering about the implications for child safety in the pursuit of viral fame. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
