Mother sues day care over video of girl screaming at Easter Bunny

A mother whose toddler’s frightened reaction to a visit by the Easter Bunny at her Osceola County day care went viral is now suing, saying she prohibited the daycare from publishing videos of her daughter.

In March, someone at Around the World Learn ing Center captured 2-year-old Surai Bryson screaming in fear and stumbling backward as a person in an Easter Bunny costume waved at her and the other kids.

The video has been viewed millions of times, both in its original form and in versions edited to make it look like Surai is reacting to President Donald Trump and singer Justin Bieber.

When she enrolled her daughter in the day care, Cassandra Bryson signed a form declining permission for the day care to publish photos or videos of her daughter on social media, court records show.

“She put her child in preschool and trusted her daughter with these folks, and they violated that trust,” said Bryson’s attorney Scott Leeds, of the Plantation-based Cochran Firm South Florida. “If you look at the video, there are other children crying at the same time. And it all appeared to be a big joke.”

Around the World Learning Center, which is on Trafalgar Boulevard, did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. They haven’t been formally served with the suit, Leeds said.

Leeds said he does not know who filmed the video or who uploaded it. The family was hurt not just by the video but by cruel, sometimes racist comments people left under it, Leeds said. He said Surai, now in a new day care, is “seeking professional treatment.”

“The little child has really sustained some severe trauma from this,” Leeds said.

An amended complaint filed in Osceola County court Wednesday seeks unspecified damages. Leeds said he has not discussed a specific figure with his client. “Cassandra’s a lovely lovely person and she really feels strongly about getting the message out there, it’s never been about money,” Leeds said.