Popular lifestyle creator Emilie Kiser is addressing heavy criticism after video footage surfaced online showing her 16-month-old son, Teddy, on a boat without wearing a life jacket.
The controversy began when fellow content creator Madi Curtis uploaded a vacation video compilation from Mallorca, Spain. In a brief segment of the clip which has since been deleted Teddy was seen seated next to his father, Brady Kiser, on a moving boat without water safety gear. Viewers quickly called out the safety oversight, prompting widespread reaction across social media.
Kiser took directly to her Instagram Stories to issue a statement taking full ownership of the oversight and acknowledging the validity of her followers’ concerns.
“Our child should have been in his life jacket for the entirety of that boat ride, not even for the few moments that he was out of it,” Kiser wrote. “We are painfully aware that in a matter of seconds, your entire life can change, and we should have done better.”
Full Accountability: Kiser admitted that even brief moments without safety equipment are unacceptable on the water.
Understanding the Backlash: The 27-year-old influencer acknowledged that public reaction was rooted in deep concern and shared grief, expressing that her family continues to learn and strive for better safety habits.
The public reaction struck a particularly sensitive nerve for Kiser’s community. In May 2025, the family suffered the tragic loss of their 3-year-old son, Trigg, following a drowning accident in their backyard pool.
In her statement, Kiser shared that she understands the emotional weight behind the public’s response:
“There has also been a deep level of anger and hurt directed toward our family, and we understand the basis of those feelings as well,” she added. “It comes from the belief that Trigg should still be here, and we share that same belief more than can be expressed.”
Kiser concluded her post by promising her audience that she and her husband will remain committed to learning from their mistakes and prioritizing water safety moving forward.
