An influencer father asserts his parenting skills are sound despite surprising his followers by tossing his young son off a cliff to “educate” him. Garrett Gee, a member of the Bucket List Family, was captured on an Instagram video helping his seven-year-old son, Calihan, confront his fears by lifting him and throwing him from a cliff at Lake Powell, Colorado. The video, shared on the family’s official account with over three million followers, depicts the father and son standing on a ledge.

Acknowledging that some viewers may disapprove of his parenting approach, Gee proceeded to throw his screaming child over the precipice. He now emphasizes the importance for critics to view more of his content to gain a fuller understanding of his actions.

In response to the backlash, Gee explained, “If somebody came across that video and had only seen that video, then I agree with them… But anyone who has followed our journey for a longer time, they understand how thoughtful and cautious we are as parents.”

The video shows Calihan screaming as he plunges into the water, cheered on by bystanders, and emerging with a smile on his face. Garrett joined his son in the water shortly after and clarified in the video’s caption that the act was not parental advice and not something he advocates for others to try. He also noted that this method was not used with their other two children.

Gee expressed empathy for those who criticized him, stating, “A small part of me felt sad when I would read the comments because you could tell how many people out there didn’t have the opportunity to be pushed by their parents to try new things and stayed within their comfort zone… That’s not the best way to live life.”

While acknowledging that this approach may not be suitable for all children, Gee mentioned that he did not employ it with his other two kids due to their differing personalities. He remained steadfast in his belief in his and his wife’s parenting abilities and intentions, unaffected by the negative feedback, understanding the nature of online commentary.

The video elicited mixed reactions from social media users, with some expressing discomfort and questioning the readiness of the child for the leap, while others praised Gee’s bold parenting style.