11.11.2026 08:20
At the University of Mississippi in the US, two white students making monkey noises and racist gestures in front of an apartment where Black students live drew backlash. After footage captured by a door camera emerged, the university administration launched an investigation, while one of the students involved apologized. The university announced that the student in question is no longer enrolled at the school.
An incident in front of the apartment where three Black female students live at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in the US state of Mississippi drew a strong backlash. In recorded security camera footage, three white female students were seen walking past the front of the apartment, while two approached the camera, made monkey sounds, and beat their chests in a monkey imitation.
ALL RACIST ACTIONS CAUGHT ON CAMERA
In the recorded footage, the first student was seen turning toward the camera, beating her chest, and making monkey sounds, after which the second student repeated similar gestures. It was stated that the third student looked at the camera but did not make the same gestures.
Jakiyra Metcalf, one of the students living in the apartment, shared the footage and asked how the university administration would respond to what happened. While the footage reached millions of people in a short time, the incident reignited debates about racism in the US.
“MY DAUGHTER SENT ME THIS FOOTAGE”
Tasha Bolton, the mother of one of the students living in the apartment, reacted to what happened by publishing the footage her daughter sent her. Bolton, who stated that the young women in the footage were the upstairs neighbors of her daughter and her two roommates, demanded an explanation from the university administration.
Bolton emphasized that the university must be a place where students can feel safe and demanded that those responsible for the incident be held accountable. It was also reported that the family received legal support and wanted to meet with the university administration.
UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION
After the footage, the University of Mississippi administration took action. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead condemned what happened and announced that the incident was being investigated by the relevant units.
Mead stated that every student at the university should feel safe and respected, emphasizing that racism and demeaning people because of their identities are unacceptable. The university administration reported that contact had been made with the students affected by the incident and that support had been provided to them.
ONE OF THE STUDENTS APOLOGIZED
After the incident, 18-year-old Alaina Kunes, one of the students who imitated a monkey in the footage, apologized by issuing a written statement on November 10.
Kunes claimed that she had not met the students living in the apartment before the incident and did not know they were Black. The young woman, who accepted that her actions were insensitive, inappropriate, and hurtful, asserted that she did not intend to target anyone because of their race.
Kunes, who stated that she regretted what happened, also announced that she would cooperate with the investigation conducted by the university.
HAS SHE BEEN DISASSOCIATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY?
In a statement made on November 10, the University of Mississippi confirmed that Alaina Kunes was no longer a student at the school. However, it was not disclosed whether the young woman left voluntarily or was removed from the school as a result of disciplinary action.
University officials stated that they could not share details about disciplinary processes due to federal laws protecting student privacy. Kunes, meanwhile, alleged that she and her family had received death threats after the footage was published.