OLE MISS STUDENTS CONFRONT CLASSMATES OVER MONKEY NOISES
Black Ole Miss students say they immediately confronted the white students who made monkey-like gestures and noises outside their apartment on November 6, 2026. While one of the women apologized, another refused to stop the racist behavior.
Jakiyra Metcalf and her roommates Victoria Johnson and Kaiyden Caldwell were devastated when their doorbell camera captured the group outside their door at about 8:37 p.m. Metcalf and Johnson told CBS News that they immediately ran outside to address the students after seeing the footage, which was later posted to TikTok.
Metcalf said that as the first woman apologized, the second woman continued acting like a monkey. “She continued to make the gestures after the girl was apologizing. It was like a slap in the face,” Metcalf said.
Metcalf said she recognized the second woman from living in their apartment complex. She told the student that she should not go around acting like that because it’s “very disrespectful.”
The university later confirmed to ABC7 that the women in the video were university students. So far, only one of the women, 18-year-old Alaina Kunes of Wisconsin, has publicly acknowledged her involvement.
Kunes released a statement through an attorney saying her actions were “insensitive, inappropriate, and deeply harmful.” She said she had not met the women previously and did not know their race before the incident.
“I would have never intentionally made those noises or gestures toward a person of color,” Kunes said in the statement. “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.”
Kunes withdrew from the university on November 10, 2026, saying her family had received death threats. According to Metcalf, Kunes claimed the group had done the same thing to “like four doors,” though Metcalf said she feels their apartment was the only residence targeted.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead called the incident “deeply troubling, hurtful, and unacceptable.” According to the New York Post, Mead said the university is actively investigating and has reached out to the targeted students to offer support and connect them with resources.
