Latest news with #CaliGee
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Travel influencer faces backlash after tossing son, 7, off a cliff for ‘fun': ‘Absolutely unacceptable'
This travel pro parent was under the influence of a bad idea. Garrett Gee, a former tech founder turned 'adventure journalist' extraordinaire, recently posted a video that left viewers equally horrified and impressed. The viral Instagram video on his family's Instagram account, @thebucketlistfamily, which has amassed almost 4 million views, sees Gee with his son on a large rock ledge, jutting out over Lake Powell, a reservoir between Arizona and Utah. Cali, Gee's 7-year-old son, initially appeared apprehensive about jumping into the water, but before long, his father threw him off the rock. 'To be extra safe, because he wanted to jump but was not feeling confident, I threw him,' the influencer clarified in the lengthy caption. He continued, 'Eventually, a baby eagle needs to leave the nest … or be tossed out of the nest.' He also added that the way he and his wife 'parent, discipline, and teach how to cliff jump is quite different, depending on the child, as all three kids are unique. 'We took our youngest Cali to a cliff height that we knew he would be safe. Really, the biggest danger would be if he hesitated, didn't jump far out, and fell down the cliffside.' The older two kids followed in Cali's footsteps and enthusiastically jumped off the taller section of the boulder soon after. Gee's parenting philosophy, according to him, emphasizes safety, bravery and exploration, and travels around the world with his family to give his kids these experiences. While some viewers commend Gee and his wife for this approach, others have said this video goes too far, and criticize the couple for 'exploiting their kids on social media,' as one user put it. 'Trauma therapy up ahead for these kids,' wrote one concerned commenter. 'Absolutely unacceptable, man. Not cool at all. As you said, every child needs different treatment, and you can't possibly predict how he feels about this subconsciously about this act. I sincerely hope it will not grow esoterically as a projection of paternal betrayal,' chastised another. Some viewers believed the outrage in the comments was overblown and said as long as the kids are safe and happy, there's no harm done. 'You guys know this already, but for others reading, please make sure you center safety with cliff jumping and teach your kids how before they just go out and do it,' advised one user. 'This can be such a fun activity!! But safety, safety, safety first!!' 'I visit Lake Powell very often. People need to understand that what they jumped off is a small cliff. Probably not even 10 feet high. Lake Powell does not encourage 'cliff jumping' over a certain height,' a local said. Despite the online backlash, Gee's 7-year-old son seemed to be fine with the stunt — unsurprisingly, a short, but action-packed lifetime of surfing, hot air balloon expeditions and hiking will do that to a kid. Kids in influencer families sometimes struggle to balance their parents' work on social media with their own interests, hobbies and educations — one child was even pulled out of school at age 12 to kickstart her content creation career. As their kids have gotten older, Gee and his wife decided to buy a house in Hawaii, and are open about how their kids attend public school, and the family does their serious travelling during breaks. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Travel influencer sparks fury after tossing son off a cliff in 'wild' parenting moment on lake trip
A popular travel influencer is facing backlash online after posting a controversial video of himself throwing his young son off a cliff. Garrett Gee, 35, the patriarch of the well-known influencer family known as 'The Bucket List Family, ' described the moment as part of his 'unique' parenting style. The video, shared on Instagram on July 12, was filmed during a recent family trip to Lake Powell - a reservoir on the Colorado River in Utah and Arizona. It shows Gee teaching his youngest child, Calihan 'Cali' Gee, how to cliff jump. The clip opens with an on-screen message warning: 'Most people won't love how we teach our kids how to cliff jump.' In the video, Cali appears hesitant as he approaches the edge of the rock and reaches for his father's hand. He then turns away, shielding his eyes in what appears to be fear. Moments later, Gee lifts his son and throws him off the cliff into the water below as Cali can be heard screaming during the descent. The video then cuts to the family's two older children, Dorothy and Manilla, jumping from the same cliff together. Anticipating the controversy, Gee included a disclaimer in the caption: 'This is NOT parental advice. This is NOT something I advise you try. Also, this is NOT something we've done with all of our kids. Each kid is quite different…' He later defended the decision, saying that throwing Cali was a calculated choice made with safety in mind. Gee claimed he selected a safe height and wanted to prevent his son from hesitating and potentially injuring himself. 'He wanted to jump but was not feeling confident… I threw him,' Gee explained, comparing the moment to a baby eagle being nudged from the nest. 'Eventually a baby eagle needs to leave the nest... or be tossed out of the nest ;) and learn HE CAN FLY!' Online critics were quick to respond, with some applauding the family's adventurous lifestyle and praising the father-of-three for teaching courage and trust. 'Coming from someone who grew up in a very fear-based/avoid all forms of struggle environment: you training your children to be courageous and to confront their fears is an absolute GIFT to their future selves,' one supporter wrote. Others, however, were disturbed by the video and questioned its ethics and safety. 'Honest question, no judgment. Did he know he was going to be thrown?' one commenter asked. Gee replied, 'YES. He had the choice… He chose to be thrown.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Garrett Gee (@garrettgee) The Bucket List Family first gained attention in 2015 after Garrett Gee sold his mobile app, Scan, to Snapchat for a reported $54 million Despite trying to keep the tone light - even joking that brave kids might one day jump from heights their parents wouldn't dare - the video has sparked a broader debate about parenting in the influencer era. 'Cliff jumping is very very dangerous! Ask an ER doctor or nurse. How do you reconcile that as a parent?' one critic commented. 'This is about the dad, not about the emotional safety and wellbeing of the family,' another added. 'Negligent and irresponsible just for views?!!' a third wrote. Gee, however, seemed unfazed by the uproar. In response to one commenter about the backlash, he wrote, 'Eh, that's basically everything on the internet these days ;)' He ended the post with a message that straddled encouragement and caution: '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!! /// BE SAFE OUT THERE! YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS! HAVE FUN!' The Bucket List Family first gained attention in 2015 after Garrett Gee sold his mobile app, Scan, to Snapchat for a reported $54 million. A former BYU student and Mormon missionary, Gee chose to invest the money and live simply. He and his wife, Jessica, 39, sold their belongings and embarked on a global adventure with their children, documenting their experiences as a family travel journal on social media. Over the past decade, the Gees have visited more than 90 countries and built a brand rooted in 'family, faith, and fearlessness.' Their nomadic lifestyle has earned them millions of followers and partnerships with global brands and tourism boards. Although they established a home base in Hawaii in 2018, the family continues to travel extensively. In a 2023 interview with Jessica reflected on the joys of their unconventional lifestyle:
