Anya Harmon, 18, said she was distraught when she learned in May that the rumors circulating at Sussex Central High School were true. Someone had created a meme showing her naked breasts and shared it with school staff.
Harmon and his mother, Tosha White, said in an interview that they learned the disturbing details later. Two principals at schools in Sussex County, Delaware, cited Janet Jackson’s exposed breasts during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show and superimposed her face on Harmon’s. They also announced that they used surveillance camera footage to create the meme. .
A mother and daughter filed their lawsuit this week in Delaware Superior Court in New Castle County against former Sussex Central principals Bradley Layfield and Matthew Jones, who have been placed on administrative leave. elaborated on the claim.
On May 17, a teacher trying to break up a fight accidentally pulled on Harmon’s jacket and bra strap, exposing her breasts. Ms. Harmon and Ms. White allege that the two principals then reviewed the security camera footage, created a still image of Ms. Harmon’s bare chest, and shared her meme with her faculty. .
They also allege that Mr. Layfield shared the unedited video with other faculty members. The families are seeking criminal charges against both men. Delaware State Police and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office did not respond to requests for comment Friday night, but Layfield’s attorney said state police are investigating.
“I’m still disappointed,” Harmon said Friday. “And I’m still in shock about the whole thing.”
The high school and the Indian River School District, also named as defendants in the lawsuit, did not immediately return calls seeking comment Friday. Messages sent to a phone number and email listed as Jones were not immediately returned Friday evening.
Layfield’s attorney, Thomas S. Neuberger, said in an interview that Layfield’s client had reviewed surveillance footage of a fight that broke out at school with Harmon. But Neuberger denied that Layfield shared the footage, or still images or memes of the moment Harmon’s breasts were exposed, with anyone via email or phone, saying the video’s file size was too large. added.
Neuberger said Rayfield, then principal, reviewed footage from the day of the fight in his office and showed it directly to state troopers, the assistant principal and some teachers.
“This is in keeping with the school’s peacekeeping practices and policies,” Neuberger said.
He said the meme was created and shared solely by Jones, who was a vice principal.
“I don’t know the answer to the question of when my client learned of the existence of the meme that this guy created,” Neuberger said.
Emeka Igwe, an attorney for Harmon’s family, said Friday that the video was not shown to the school resource officer, who is “the single designated person who may have been able to view the video for security reasons.” Stated. Instead, he said, he showed the video to his physical education teacher and “other men who had nothing to do with this.”
According to the complaint, Harmon was not involved in the fight that broke out on May 17, and only told the student who was yelling at the boy to “be quiet.” The student yelled at Harmon and “threatened to hit him,” before the teacher intervened and pulled Harmon’s clothes, exposing his chest. Neuberger claims there is surveillance camera footage that shows Harmon was more directly involved in the fight.
The complaint alleges that Jones showed the meme on a school-issued laptop to principals, administrators, teachers and others, and worked with Layfield and “possibly others” to create the meme.
“Mr. Jones and Mr. Layfield stated that the data they possessed and shared contained sensitive personal information and content, including confidential and private photos and videos of Plaintiff’s exposed chest.” “He knew or should have known that he was there,” the complaint states.
As a result of Layfield and Jones’ actions, at least six people had images of Harmon’s breasts, according to the complaint.
White, Harmon’s mother, said she heard about the meme from people who work in the school district and neighboring school districts, suggesting many people were aware of it.
Days after the fight, when school officials called Ms. White to confirm that her daughter’s breasts were exposed at school on May 17, officials also said they were not aware of the meme, that the footage had been shared by other teachers, or that the footage had been shared by other teachers. She said she never said anything about being seen or seen. . White said.
White and Harmon learned about the meme on May 19, Neuberger said. The school’s principals were placed on administrative leave on May 22nd.
“I was in shock for about four or five hours,” White said. “And once the shock wore off, I was furious. I was angry, and I’ve been angry ever since.”
Neuberger said the Delaware State Board of Education had investigated Rayfield in May and notified him that he could lose his teaching license. Neuberger said Layfield was also not allowed to take the podium at his graduation ceremony to distribute his diploma.
White said the incident ruined Harmon’s celebration right before his high school graduation.
Harmon, now a first-year business major, said she realized in the months since then how much the meme and fallout had affected her. She felt increasingly lonely, and at the beginning of the summer she “no longer felt like going out” or that she wanted to go to work.
“I hope this brings awareness to other schools,” Harmon said, adding, “I want schools to be better places, safer places for students.”
Sealag McNeil contributed to research.
