Mother Records Daughter’s Tears After Racial Bullying: In December 2025, Christa Thao filmed her daughter Adi crying after classmates repeatedly mocked her “Asian eyes,” a clip that has been viewed about 3.5 million times. Thao immediately alerted school leaders, who launched an investigation and met with the students and families involved. At home, the family reassured Adi and used the moment to talk about identity, support and recognizing real friends. Thao shared the video to raise awareness about identity-based bullying and encourage adults to intervene.
Midwest Mom Posts Viral Video of Daughter in Tears After Classmates Mock Her “Asian Eyes” — School Investigates
Courtesy of Christa ThaoChrista Thao's daughter, Adi.
Christa Thao, an Asian-American mother of four from the Midwest, recorded a heartbreaking moment in December 2025 when her elementary-school daughter, Adi, broke down in tears after describing repeated racial teasing at school.
Thao picked Adi up from dance practice expecting her usual cheerful updates. Instead, Adi sat quietly until she asked, “Mom… why are people mean to Asians?” When Thao asked what she meant, Adi sobbed and explained that several girls she considered friends had been pulling their eyes back to mock her “Asian eyes.”
Courtesy of Christa ThaoChrista Thao and her daughter, Adi.
The short clip — posted by Thao and viewed roughly 3.5 million times — shows Adi describing how the teasing recurred in gym, music and even during class. Thao says the other students would call her daughter and another Asian student “sisters” and act as though they confused other Asian girls for them, targeting them because of their facial features.
“Adi loves her eyes. She loves being Hmong. She is proud of who she is. What hurt her was not her identity… it was being made fun of for it,” Thao told PEOPLE. Through tears, Adi told her mother plainly, “Mom, it hurt me.”
Concerned by the depth of her daughter’s pain, Thao recorded the conversation not to exploit Adi but to document the emotional impact and show school leaders what identity-based bullying looks like for a child.
Courtesy of Christa ThaoChrista Thao's daughter, Adi.
That same night, around 8 p.m., Thao emailed the principal, associate principals, school counselors and the superintendent with the recording and a description of the incidents. The principal replied quickly, reaffirming the district’s zero-tolerance policy on bullying. The following morning an associate principal launched an investigation.
According to Thao, school officials first met with Adi to make sure she felt heard, supported and protected. They then interviewed the students involved and notified their parents. The district implemented monitoring measures intended to prevent further incidents and to ensure a safer environment for Adi and other students.
Courtesy of Christa ThaoChrista Thao and her daughter, Adi.
At home, Thao and her husband had an open conversation with Adi about bullying, boundaries and how to recognize real friends. They reassured her that her Hmong heritage and her eyes are beautiful, reminding her of her talents, strength and the family’s love and support.
“As an Asian-American mother, this experience reinforced something I already knew but never wanted my child to learn this way: intent does not erase impact,” Thao said, stressing that minimizing hurtful actions does not remove the pain children carry while figuring out who they are.
Courtesy of Christa ThaoChrista Thao and her family.
Thao says she shared the video publicly because identity-based bullying often happens quietly and without the words or support children need to speak up. She hopes Adi’s story will encourage adults to act sooner and help other children feel seen.
What happened next: The school says it investigated the matter, met with the students involved and their families, and put measures in place to monitor interactions. Thao remains grateful for the prompt response but wants broader attention on preventing and addressing identity-based harassment in schools.
