Creator Drama
Emilie Kiser Apologizes for Son's Lack of Life Jacket
Ongoing
Via YouTube channel @Emilie Kiser All clips and posts below are embedded from their original sources.
By the numbers: this timeline documents 10 events from Apr 30, 2025 to Aug 14, 2026, drawn from 4 sources.
“I could hear the pain and confusion in his voice. I knew immediately something was wrong. Our life completely changed that day, he passed away about a week later.”
via buzzfeed.com
Background
In May 2025, TikTok influencer Emilie Kiser and her husband, Brady Kiser, experienced a family tragedy when their 3-year-old son, Trigg Kiser, died following a drowning incident at their home in Arizona. The accident occurred while Emilie was five weeks postpartum, having recently given birth to their second son, Teddy. According to Emilie, she had left the home for her first night out with friends since the birth of Teddy.
Approximately 10 minutes after arriving at dinner, she received a phone call from Brady informing her that Trigg had fallen into the family's backyard swimming pool and was not breathing. Trigg remained in the hospital for six days before passing away on May 18, 2025.
Following the loss, Emilie took a four-month hiatus from her online presence, returning to TikTok in September 2025 to share her journey with grief. During an appearance on Jay Shetty’s 'On Purpose' podcast, she detailed the emotional complexity of the tragedy, admitting she initially struggled with anger and wondered if she could ever forgive Brady.
She explained that Brady had been distracted while caring for newborn Teddy—specifically thawing breastmilk and attempting to settle the infant—when the accident happened. Emilie eventually found empathy for her husband, noting that the same accident could have happened to her if the roles were reversed.
She subsequently used her platform to advocate for pool and water safety, urging parents to enroll children in swimming lessons as early as possible and taking full accountability for the preventable nature of the accident.
The timeline
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Trigg Kiser drowning accident
Trigg Kiser, the 3-year-old son of Emilie and Brady Kiser, reportedly fell into the family's backyard swimming pool in Arizona while under the care of his father. The incident reportedly occurred shortly after Emilie left the home for a dinner outing with friends [3].[2754]
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Death of Trigg Kiser
After spending six days in the hospital following the reported drowning incident in May, Trigg Kiser reportedly passed away [3].[2754]
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Emilie Kiser returns to social media
After a reported four-month break from her online career to grieve the loss of her son, Emilie Kiser returned to TikTok, posting videos where she opened up about her grief and reportedly confirmed that she and Brady remained together [3].[2754]
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Water safety advocacy campaign
Shortly before the first anniversary of Trigg's death, Emilie reportedly posted a video advocating for pool and water safety. She described her son's death as a 'preventable accident' and stated she would take full accountability as a parent to protect her children [3].[2754]
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Mallorca vacation boat trip
While vacationing in Mallorca, Spain, Emilie and Brady Kiser reportedly traveled on a boat with fellow influencer and friend Madi Curtis and her family [1].[2752]
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Madi Curtis shares video of Teddy
Madi Curtis shared a compilation-style video on social media featuring Emilie's 16-month-old son, Teddy, on a boat. The video, which was later deleted, showed Teddy for a brief moment without a life jacket. The footage also reportedly showed Madi's own daughter without a life jacket [1].[2752]
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Public backlash over safety lapse
Followers criticized Emilie and Brady for the lack of a life jacket, citing the previous death of their son Trigg. One social media user claimed that it is illegal for children under 13 to be on a boat underway without a life jacket, labeling the incident as 'blatant negligence' [1].[2752]
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Emilie Kiser issues apology
Emilie reportedly posted a statement on her Instagram Stories addressing the criticism. She stated, '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,' adding that they are 'painfully aware' of how quickly life can change [1].[2752]
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Emilie Kiser announces pregnancy
Emilie Kiser announced that she is pregnant again, according to NBC News.[3446]
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Emilie Kiser posts TikTok apology video
Kiser posted a TikTok video apologizing for the safety lapse and explaining that Teddy was fussy, according to Today.com.[3447]
Frequently asked
Why did Emilie Kiser face backlash in 2026?
Emilie Kiser faced backlash after a video shared by friend Madi Curtis showed her toddler son, Teddy, on a boat in Mallorca, Spain, without a life jacket.
What is the connection between the boat incident and Trigg Kiser?
The backlash was intensified because Emilie's older son, Trigg, died in a drowning accident in May 2025, and Emilie had since become a public advocate for water safety.
What did Emilie Kiser say in her apology?
Emilie stated on her Instagram Stories that Teddy should have been wearing his life jacket for the entire boat ride and admitted that she and her husband should have done better.
More related drama (4)
Sources (4)
- cafemom.com, ramsgaard/iStock What to Know 01 Influencer Emilie Kiser faced backlash after toddler Teddy appeared on a Mallorca boat without a life jacket. 02 Kiser's son Trigg died in a drowning incident in May 2, Aug 28, 2026.
- buzzfeed.com, Here’s Everything There Is To Know About Emilie Kiser’s 3-Year-Old Son’s Tragic Death, And The Subsequent Backlash To A Recent Vacation Video Of The Family“We are painfully aware that in a matter of s, Aug 28, 2026.
- nbcnews.com, An influencer whose 3-year-old son drowned more than a year ago has apologized for letting her 16-month-old sit on a boat without a life jacket, telling followers it was a lapse in judgment she deeply, Aug 15, 2026.
- today.com, Emilie Kiser, whose 3-year-old died last year in a drowning incident, has spoken out after she received backlash for footage that showed her other young son on a boat without a life jacket. The 27-yea, Aug 15, 2026.
Cite this timeline
This timeline compiles 10 dated events from 4 sources. If it helped your reporting, cite it:
GenZHype. “Emilie Kiser Apologizes for Son's Lack of Life Jacket.”
GenZHype, 8 September 2026,
https://genzhype.com/drama/emilie-kiser-apologizes-for-son-s-lack-of-life-jacket/.