Mum-of-three who went viral for screaming at ‘scary clown’ in her driveway dies of cancer aged 44 – remembered for her ‘famous scream that spread joy around the world’

That was the scream heard around the world – or at least the neighborhood, when a mother of three got the fright of her life after she saw a ‘scary clown’ out of the corner of her eye.

Sadly, the New Jersey woman who became part of the hilarious viral video in 2022 has passed away after losing her battle with metastatic breast cancer.

Cheryl Granito, of Denville, was a teacher who died last month at age 44, leaving behind three young daughters, 12-year-old Harper, Kayla, 7, and Ellie, who is 4. She is also survived by her husband, 56 -year-old Mark.

The ginger, curly-haired man seen in the clip, which has more than 500 million views, is now trying to raise money for the grieving family, with more than $40,000 generated so far in a GoFundMe.

‘I am the man who comes to get something from her. I myself have donated $4000 to GoFundMe. Her famous scream spread joy around the world,’ 20-year-old Brayden Krupiarz told DailyMail.com.

Cheryl Granito, the woman featured in a viral video that captured a mother’s startling scream at the sight of a ‘scary clown’, has died of breast cancer aged 44

One second GoFundMe was already set up by the family in March, which raised $56,000.

The video became so popular that Krupiarz even started an Instagram account dedicated to the encounter, complete with the handle ‘driveway.dude’.

The original video begins innocently enough with Granito being seen talking to a neighbor along with another woman and one of her children.

She seems calm and relaxed on a calm summer day when suddenly Krupiarz can be seen moving up the driveway towards her.

Granito became known for her high-pitched scream after becoming alarmed by the presence of Brayden Krupiarz, 20, who could be seen walking up a driveway behind her

Granito let out an almighty scream that served to frighten those around her

Brayden Krupiarz, 20, appeared to have a ‘creepy clown look’ about him as he approached

Cheryl Granito, of Denville, New Jersey, was a teacher who died last month at the age of 44, leaving behind three adorable young girls, 12-year-old Harper, Kayla, 7, and Ellie, who is 4, and their 56-year-old – old dad, Mark

Granito was so engrossed in conversation that she didn’t notice the young man moving silently up behind her.

The driveway camera captures his long, curly ginger hair and mirrored sunglasses.

What may have been an innocent appearance was seen as ‘creepy clownish’ by Granito, who lets out an ear-splitting high-pitched scream that lasts several seconds.

The scream, in turn, also alerts her children, who jump back in fright.

‘Holy s**t!’ shouts Granito.

Krupiarz seems to be enjoying his 15 minutes of fame from the brief encounter, appearing in the same outfit in all of his subsequent videos

Krupiarz can be heard apologizing and explaining that he had only come over to pick up something. It is understood a package by him had been delivered to her address.

The video still generates laughs even years after its initial upload.

‘This video makes me cough every time! I saved it a LONG time ago so I could watch it again when I need a laugh!’ wrote Wendy Angela.

‘I’ve never laughed so hard every time I watch it. Best clip on the web said Battlesu.

“Sorry to exist is comedy!” added another.

Cheryl Granito, who worked as a special education teacher at Lakeview Elementary School, was diagnosed with cancer in 2019.

After her death, Krupiarz wrote on his page: ‘I am so extremely sad to tell you all that the woman with the scream around the world has passed away.

‘Cheryl was an amazing mother and had become a great friend. Please share and donate.’