Emilie Kiser is responding directly to the criticism. 

After video footage was posted of the influencer, her husband Brady Kiser and their 16-month-old son Teddy on a boat, fans were quick to point out that the toddler was not wearing a life jacket. Fans expressed anger and disappointment, considering Emilie and Brady’s eldest son Trigg tragically died in May 2025 at the age of 3 after accidentally drowning in the family’s pool.

“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,” Emilie wrote in a July 28 Instagram Story. “We are painfully aware that in a matter of seconds, your entire life can change, and we should have done better.”

The 27-year-old recognized and appreciated “the genuine care that people have for our children,” adding, “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.”