Garrett Gee, father of three and creator of The Bucket List Family, is speaking out after a video of him tossing his 7-year-old son off a cliff in Lake Powell went viral earlier this summer.
The clip, shared in July 2025, shows Gee standing on a towering cliff with his son Calihan, encouraging him before ultimately picking him up and dropping him into the water below. While the moment was intended to help Calihan conquer his fears, critics online accused Gee of reckless parenting.
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Gee understands the initial reaction. “If that was the only video of us someone had ever seen, I’d agree with them—it looks bad,” he told PEOPLE. “But anyone who knows our journey knows how thoughtful and cautious we are as parents.”
The adventurer admits that some of the backlash saddened him, not because it shook his confidence, but because it revealed how many people had never experienced being challenged to step outside their comfort zones. “That’s not the best way to live life,” he says. “When people said they were horrified, I thought, I’d love to take you on an adventure and show you what’s possible.”
Gee emphasized that the cliff jump was not “parenting advice” and isn’t something he’s done with his other kids. “Every child is different. Safety is always number one. After that, it’s about teaching them they can do hard things—and having fun while doing it.”
Despite the uproar, Gee says he wasn’t personally affected. “I know who I am as a parent. I know our intentions. I understand how the internet works.”
The Gees are no strangers to online attention. After selling Garrett’s app to Snapchat for $54 million in 2015, the family sold their belongings, left Utah, and began traveling full time. Over the past decade, they’ve documented adventures in more than 100 countries—from swimming with whales to sledding in Italy—amassing millions of followers.
Their latest project is a children’s book inspired by their travels, blending true stories with fantastical elements imagined by their kids. “It was a full family effort,” Gee says proudly, hinting that the book may one day evolve into an animated series.
For aspiring adventurers, his advice is simple: start small. “Try something fun nearby, then build up. We went all in and sold everything—and luckily loved it. But that’s not for everyone.”
At the end of the day, Gee hopes their videos do more than entertain. “Our goal isn’t to keep people glued to a screen. We want them to watch, feel inspired, then go live their own adventures offline.”
