OXFORD, MS. (THECOUNT) — Alaina Kunes, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Mississippi, has issued a public apology after a viral doorbell-camera video appeared to show her making monkey noises and gestures outside an apartment occupied by Black students in Oxford, Mississippi.
Kunes released a statement Tuesday, November 10, apologizing to the women who were targeted and to the university community. She acknowledged that her actions were insensitive, inappropriate and deeply hurtful, while claiming she did not know the women’s race before the incident.
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“Before the incident on November 6, I never met the women involved and was unaware of their race, however, I recognize my actions were insensitive, inappropriate, and deeply harmful,” Kunes said in her statement.
Kunes said she would never intentionally make noises or gestures like those captured in the video toward a person of color. She also said she had personally apologized to the women affected.
“They deserve to feel seen and understood,” she said, acknowledging that she could never fully understand the pain her actions caused. She added that the incident does not reflect the person she is trying to become.
The apology follows the circulation of Ring doorbell footage recorded November 6 outside an apartment shared by three Black University of Mississippi students. The video shows three women walking past the door, with two appearing to beat their chests and make monkey-like noises and gestures. The third woman does not appear to participate.
Jakiyra Metcalf, one of the apartment’s residents, shared the footage on TikTok, where it quickly spread across social media and drew millions of views. Metcalf said the women were neighbors who lived upstairs in the same apartment building.
Kunes also addressed the backlash following the video’s release, saying she and her family have received death threats and harassment. She thanked authorities for helping ensure their safety and said she intends to fully cooperate with the university’s investigation. She also asked for privacy.
The University of Mississippi condemned the behavior shown in the footage and confirmed that the incident is under investigation. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead said the university had contacted the students directly affected to offer support and resources.
Mead said the university was committed to ensuring students feel safe, respected and valued, adding that racism and conduct disparaging people because of their identity have no place in the campus community. The university has not announced any disciplinary outcome.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi has also received complaints and is reviewing the incident. Communications and Community Relations Director Candi Richardson told TMZ the organization was looking into the complaints, while noting that it had not determined whether any laws were violated.
Some accounts circulating online have suggested the women were making animal noises as a joke while walking past several apartment doors. Those claims have been attributed to sources describing the incident as harmless fun. Kunes’ statement, however, does not explain why the gestures were made or provide further details about the circumstances.
The controversy has placed renewed attention on racial harassment and student conduct at the university. A similar incident occurred at Ole Miss in 2024, when a white student was filmed making monkey gestures toward a Black woman during a campus protest. That student was later expelled from his fraternity.
BIG DEAL OR MEH? Was Alaina Kunes’ apology enough, or should the University of Mississippi take further disciplinary action? Sound off in the comments.
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