Influencer dad throws his screaming son, 7, off cliff to 'teach him a lesson'

Daily Mirror

17-07-2025

Garrett Gee attracted some criticism from his followers when he sent his son screaming over the edge of a cliff above a lake in the US, but also had a number of supportive messages
An influencer dad left his millions of followers shocked after he flung his young son from a sheer cliff face to "teach" him a lesson he admitted some people "won't love".
Garrett Gee, the patriarch of globetrotting Bucket List Family, was seen attempting to teach his seven-year-old son to conquer his fears in a now viral Instagram video by picking him up and tossing him from a perch on a cliff in Lake Powell, Colorado. In the clip, posted to the family's official account, shows father and son standing on an outcrop, with his son Calihan standing in front. After proclaiming some viewers "won't love" the way he parents, he throws the screaming child over the edge.
The clip, which has been seen by 3.1 million people, captures Calihan screaming before entering the water, with onlookers heard cheering him on, and surfacing with a smile on his face.
Garrett follows his son into the water moments later, and posted the video to social media with a disclaimer saying it was "not parental advice, or even something he would advise other people to try". He added in a caption that he and his partner have not used the tactic with their other two children.
Shocked social media users in the comment section quickly reacted to the clip, with many voicing their discomfort at the scene and questioning whether the youngster was ready for the leap.
One commenter wrote: The scream says it all. He's not ready. I hate this for him." But others were more supportive of the move, with some of his followers commending his bold parenting style. Garrett clarified in a comment that Calihan had chosen to be thrown from the rock face.
Although, he did admit the experience was "scary", saying: "He had the choice to climb down, jump himself, or have me throw him. He chose to be thrown.
"But regardless it was still scary for him. Scary for me too because I need to make sure he doesn't cling onto me and hit the cliffs and also make sure he hits the water feet first." In a caption that went with the video, he added that the seven-year-old was taken to a height he knew "would be safe"
He said: "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 cliff side.
"So to be extra safe, because he wanted to jump but was not feeling confident..I threw him. Eventually a baby eagle needs to leave the nest..or be tossed out of the nest."