Influencer Garrett Gee is at the center of a parenting storm following a video that showed him literally tossing his son off a cliff—a move that has left many clucking their tongues.
In an interview with People, published on September 27, Gee responded to critics by stating, “If someone stumbled upon just that video, I’d agree with their perspective. It does look bad, and it seems the dad is pushing too hard. However, those who’ve followed our family knows we are thoughtful and cautious in our parenting approach.”
Gee, known for his Instagram account The Bucket List Family, which boasts over 3 million followers, first caught the public’s eye when he filmed an elaborate pep talk for his son aimed at inspiring a leap into the waters of Lake Powell. The highlight? He ended up being the one to send the little guy flying off the cliff himself.
In the caption of the viral post, Gee made it abundantly clear: “This is NOT parental advice. Don’t try this at home! This is also NOT something we’ve done with all our kids. Every child is unique, hence our parenting style varies accordingly. Safety is the top priority, followed by the belief that you can tackle challenges, and finally—don’t forget to have fun! 🙂”
Gee elaborated on the safety aspect, explaining, “We chose a cliff that was safe for our youngest, Cali. The real risk came from hesitation—if he didn’t jump far enough, he could have slipped. To mitigate that fear, I gave him a little push. It’s like teaching a baby eagle to fly; sometimes you have to give a little nudge for them to realize they can soar.”
He humorously warned his followers that while fostering bravery in children is essential, it might backfire when they take leaps off heights that even you wouldn’t dare! Concluding his mantra with, “BE SAFE OUT THERE! YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS! HAVE FUN! — @thebucketlistfamily.”
Reactions to his video were decidedly mixed—some parents deemed it “irresponsible parenting,” while others applauded his approach. Among the latter, Kimberly Van Der Beek (yes, the wife of the ‘Dawson’s Creek’ heartthrob) chimed in with enthusiastic approval: “This. Is. Phenomenal. On so many levels. 👏👏👏”
Gee expressed a certain sadness when faced with the backlash, realizing that many commenters might not have had the same encouragement from their own parents to step outside their comfort zones. Despite the online uproar, he asserted that it did not dampen his spirits. “I feel very secure in my and my wife’s parenting decisions. We are careful, cautious, and most importantly, loving,” Gee remarked. “I completely understand the nature of the internet; it’s bound to breed divisive opinions.”
