A University of Mississippi freshman has withdrawn from the school after appearing in a racist viral video making monkey noises and gestures outside the apartment of three Black female students.
Alaina Kunes left Ole Miss following the Nov. 6 incident, her attorneys confirmed, as the university investigates the alleged racist harassment.
Kunes issued a public apology through Gardiner Koch Weisberg & Wrona Law Firm, acknowledging the harm her behavior caused.
“To the women I offended, and to the Ole Miss community, I sincerely apologize,” she said, claiming that she did not know the women were Black and insisted she never intended to target anyone because of their race.
“I recognize my actions were insensitive, inappropriate, and deeply harmful,” she added.
However, the mother of one student disputed Kunes’ account, saying her daughter and roommates had previously approached the women upstairs about excessive noise. One roommate also alleged that two women involved apologized only after the Ring camera footage surfaced online.
The university condemned the incident, calling the behavior “offensive, hurtful, and unacceptable.”
Demetrick M. Stringer Jr., executive president of the university’s Black Student Union, said the incident had left students feeling unsafe.
“Comparisons of this kind carry a long and painful history,” he said.
The organization is demanding a thorough investigation and appropriate disciplinary action.
Kunes also reported receiving death threats and harassment. Her attorneys denied claims that the harassment led to her withdrawal.
