Ole Miss students targeted with racist gestures in viral video

Summarised from 3 outlets · 10 reports · Updated 11 Nov, 23:33 · Archive

Black students at the University of Mississippi were harassed by white classmates making racist monkey gestures and sounds outside their apartment.

Black Ole Miss students Jakiyra Metcalf, Victoria Johnson and Kaiden Caldwell discovered a Ring doorbell video showing a group of white women making monkey noises and gestures outside their apartment on Friday evening. Metcalf and Johnson went outside to confront the women immediately after seeing the footage.

One of the women, identified as Alaina Kunes, an 18-year-old from Wisconsin, apologised to the students. However, another woman in the group, who lives in the same apartment complex, continued to make the offensive gestures and sounds despite Kunes's apology. 'She continued to make the gestures after the girl was apologizing. It was like a slap in the face,' Johnson told CBS Mornings.

When confronted, Metcalf told the women that they should not behave that way because it is 'very disrespectful'. Kunes claimed they 'did that to like four doors', though the students stressed they were the only residence they observed being targeted.

Kunes issued a public apology through her attorney, saying: '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. I would have never intentionally made those noises or gestures toward a person of color.' She has since decided to leave the University of Mississippi, citing death threats her family received.

The New York Post reports that a fundraiser launched on GiveSendGo for the other woman involved had raised $20,000 of a $50,000 goal by Wednesday afternoon. The fundraiser's description defended the behaviour as a 'juvenile stunt' and discouraged apologising, though the Post could not confirm the identity of the woman in question.

How it is being reported

• Ole Miss coed who ‘doubled down with monkey noises’ when confronted by black students raises thousands in racist fundraiserAn online fundraiser for an 'Ole Miss student involved in a racist tirade against three black students had raked in $20,000 of its $50,000 goal as of Wednesday afternoon.New York Post · 11 Nov, 21:23
• Black Ole Miss students racially abused by white women said one of their tormentors continued making offensive gestures while they confronted herJakiyra Metcalf, Kaiden Caldwell and Victoria G Johnson were inside their apartment on Friday evening when three white women made monkey noises and beat their chests outside their door.Daily Mail · 11 Nov, 18:18
• Ole Miss students speak out after alleged racial harassment in videoDoorbell video captured two White students making monkey gestures and sounds outside an apartment where a group of Black students live.CBS News · 11 Nov, 17:10
• Ole Miss Ring monkey scandal just got worse… | The Low DownTMZ and the New York Post discuss the latest fallout and newest details from a viral Ring doorbell video showing Ole Miss students directing racist gestures at Black classmates.New York Post · 11 Nov, 16:36
• Black Ole Miss students say they immediately confronted classmates who made monkey noises — and one kept doing it“She continued to make the gestures after the girl was apologizing. It was like a slap in the face."New York Post · 11 Nov, 14:08
• Ole Miss students targeted with racist gestures in Ring camera video speak outThe Ole Miss students who live in the dorm room where a group of women was caught making racist gestures on a Ring camera sat down with Jericka Duncan to discuss the ordeal.CBS News · 11 Nov, 13:59
• Ole Miss students who say they were targeted in alleged racist incident on Ring video speak outThe Ole Miss students who live in the dorm room where a group of women was caught making racist gestures on a Ring camera sat down with Jericka Duncan to discuss the ordeal.CBS News · 11 Nov, 13:59
• Mom of black Ole Miss freshman speaks out as student Alaina Kunes leaves school after making monkey noise outside daughter’s doorOne of the three Ole Miss students caught on camera making racist monkey noises outside an apartment shared by three black university students has withdrawn from the university – but a mom of one of the victims revealed she hates the freshman’s choice.New York Post · 11 Nov, 10:52
• Family business of Ole Miss student who made monkey noises outside black students’ door hit with lawsuit over racism claimsAfter the oil change, the N-word was reportedly printed on a service sticker that was placed on her windshield.New York Post · 11 Nov, 03:08
• Ole Miss coed caught making racist monkey noises outside black students’ door drops outThe Ole Miss student who fessed up to making racist monkey noises and gestures outside an apartment shared by three black students has temporarily abandoned her studies, The Post has learned.New York Post · 10 Nov, 23:25

In this story: Ole Miss · University of Mississippi · Jakiyra Metcalf · Victoria Johnson · Alaina Kunes · Kaiden Caldwell · Wisconsin

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log