In May of 2025, TikTok star and influencer Emilie Kiser was faced with every parent’s absolute worst nightmare. And now more than one year later she’s giving her first interview since that harrowing, fatal day.
Speaking on the Jay Shetty podcast, On Purpose, Emilie opened up about the 2025 accident that led to the death of her three-year-old son, Trigg. She spoke candidly and vulnerably about forgiving her husband, Brady Kiser, who was home with Trigg and their other son during the incident, as well as grief and the reality of losing a child while needing to be there for her one who is still alive.
The podcast episode, which was released on June 17th, marks the first time Emilie has had a formal, sit down interview since the death of her son.
@jayshetty 🚨Watch or listen🚨to this brand new episode with Emilie Kiser today by searching ‘Jay Shetty Podcast’ on your favorite platform 🎙️
♬ original sound – Jay Shetty
Emilie also spoke about how she’s found the will to keep going, and it involves a promise she made to Trigg right before he died:
“I made a promise to Trigg, right before we lost him, that I was going to take care of Teddy. That was actually my final promise to him: ‘I will take care of your brother.’ At that time, I felt like I couldn’t. It really just was too much. It felt I couldn’t even take care of myself. I’m going to fulfill it, and I’m gonna give Teddy the best life I possibly can, and that means showing up for him, showing up for myself, doing everything I possibly can to make sure that that happens.”
What Happened to Trigg Kiser?
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Trigg was hospitalized on May 12th, 2025 after falling into the family pool at their home in Chandler, Arizona. Emilie Kiser was not home at the time, and her husband Brady was watching both Trigg and their second child, Teddy. Trigg passed away six days later on May 18th.
Following Trigg’s death social media exploded with speculation and the Kisers remained relatively quiet following the accident. The Chandler Police Department initially reported that Brady stated he had lost sight on Trigg for “three to five minutes” before finding him the pool. However, video evidence later showed that Trigg had been alone in the backyard unsupervised for upwards of nine minutes, and in the water for seven of them.
Months after the fact, CPD announced that following their investigation into Trigg’s death they recommend charging Brady with a Class 4 felony charge of child abuse. However, in July of 2025, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office stated that Brady would not face charges and there was “no likelihood of conviction” against him.
Emilie came back to Instagram that following August with a brief statement via social media: “Loss of this magnitude feels impossible to put into words.”
In the year since Trigg’s passing, Emilie has kept to social media until today on the Jay Shetty podcast, sharing about her grief journey and warning parents about the realties of drowning for children.
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Related: Emilie Kiser Returns To Instagram Following Hiatus For Anniversary of Son’s Death
