One of the three University of Mississippi students seen in a viral video making monkey gestures toward an apartment where Black students live has withdrawn from the university and apologized as school officials investigate the incident.
Ring camera footage captured Alaina Kunes, 18, and another woman thumping their chests and howling like monkeys as they pass the door. A third woman walking with them does not make any gestures or noises. Jakirya Metcalf, who lives in the apartment, published the video on TikTok on Nov. 7, a day after the incident, and the 13-second video spread quickly online.
Kunes said in a statement on Nov. 10 that her actions were "insensitive, inappropriate and deeply harmful," that she had never met the women who lived
in the apartment and she was "unaware of their race." Her attorney confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, that Kunes has withdrawn from the university, where she was a freshman.
"I would never intentionally make those noises or gestures toward a person of color," Kunes said. "I have apologized to the women and I pray they will forgive me. I can never truly understand the pain I have caused them and it was never my intention."
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead issued a letter on Nov. 8 condemning what she described as "racist gestures directed toward other students" and announcing the university is investigating the issue. Mead said the "matter is being taken seriously," but student privacy laws limit what the school can share regarding potential disciplinary action.
"The behavior depicted in this video is deeply troubling, hurtful, and unacceptable," she said. "We condemn the behavior as it does not reflect our university's values or the kind of community we strive to be every day."
Student's family business embroiled in controversy
Kunes' attorney, Thomas G. Gardiner, confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that she is the daughter of Scott Kunes. He said she is not involved or employed with the Kunes Auto car dealership business founded by her grandfather, Gregg Kunes, and her father is not currently involved in the business, either.
Scott Kunes resigned as chief operating officer of Kunes Auto Group on Feb. 17. The company has dozens of dealerships across Wisconsin.
"The individual in the video has no employment, ownership, or professional affiliation with Kunes Auto Group. We do not comment on private citizens unaffiliated with the company," Kunes Auto Group said in a Nov. 9 statement. "Our organization is built on treating every person with dignity and respect, and we do our best to live out those values every day."
In August, a woman filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against Kunes Buick GMC, alleging that a technician at the dealership in 2025 wrote a racial slur on her oil change sticker. In April, another Black woman said a salesman at the Kunes dealership in Elkhorn sent her a text message of an image of a dancing ape wearing a bathing suit.
The dealerships fired both employees.
The Ole Miss incident has resulted in Kunes and her family being harassed and receiving death threats, she said in her statement. Kunes thanked authorities for working to ensure her family's safety and asked for privacy.
“As I intend to cooperate fully with the University’s investigation, I ask for privacy for my family,” she wrote. “I understand the seriousness of this situation and remain committed to taking responsibility and learning from this embarrassing ordeal.”
Family, supporters of Black students seek accountability
Vincent Ford, 54, the grandfather of Kaiyden Caldwell, 18, one of the women living in the Ole Miss apartment with Metcalf, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Nov. 10 that his granddaughter contacted him after the incident. Ford, a retired federal law enforcement officer, said he was deeply disturbed by the video and wanted to ensure that his granddaughter and her roommates were safe.
"Even though these type of things happen, they're not tolerated," Ford said. "We're gonna make sure that everybody's held accountable for their actions."
Tasha Bolton also posted the video on Facebook, saying her daughter sent her the footage from the apartment she shares with two Black roommates.
"The video has been shared with university administration, and we want answers. Specifically, what steps will be taken to address this behavior and ensure accountability?" she wrote.
Demetrick M. Stringer Jr., executive president of the University of Mississippi Black Student Union, said the organization wants a full investigation and for students responsible to "receive disciplinary measures consistent with the M book and proportionate to the very serious nature of race-based harassment."
"Comparisons of this kind carry a long and painful history, and directing them at a student where she lives has her, and many of our members, feeling unwelcome and unsafe," Stringer wrote. "The Black Student Union condemns this behavior, and we stand firmly with our fellow student. We condemn it without qualification."
Misidentification of other women in video 'caused real distress'
Mead, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, warned that at least one student accused of being involved was actually misidentified.
"To be clear, no members of our sorority community were involved," she said. "Sharing unverified information can cause additional harm to people who had nothing to do with what occurred."
The Alpha Psi chapter at Ole Miss echoed that sentiment in a statement confirming that none of its members were involved. The chapter asked people who shared false claims to remove the posts and stop sharing the wrong women's identity and contact information.
"This false identification has caused real distress to the misidentified women, their families and our chapter," the sorority said in a statement.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Student making monkey gestures in viral video withdraws from Ole Miss
