Alaina Kunes leaves Ole Miss after doorbell video captures her making ape noises at neighbor's door
An 18-year-old woman apologized after a doorbell camera captured her and others making sounds and gestures outside a freshman's apartment.
By Andrew Yang ·
Alaina Kunes, 18, has withdrawn from the University of Mississippi. The decision followed the viral spread of a doorbell camera video that captured her and two other women outside the off-campus apartment of three Black students. The incident occurred on Friday and gained national attention by Tuesday.
Kunes released a statement on Tuesday in which she apologized to the women in the apartment and the university community. She said she did not know the residents personally and was unaware of their race until the video circulated. In the footage, Kunes is seen beating her chest while making ape noises. A second woman, who has not been identified, made similar sounds. A third woman walked past without stopping.
The university confirmed it launched an investigation into the matter on Sunday. Shawnboda Mead, the vice chancellor for student affairs, described the video in an email to the campus as showing students engaging in racist gestures toward other students. Kunes stated she intends to cooperate fully with the investigation. She also noted that she has apologized directly to the students in the apartment and asked for their forgiveness.
Tasha Bolton, the mother of one of the freshmen, shared details on Facebook on Saturday. She explained that her daughter and two other Black roommates live in the apartment. Bolton identified the women in the video as the upstairs neighbors. She called the behavior disgusting and asked for steps to be taken to address the incident and ensure accountability. She emphasized that college should be a place where young adults feel safe.
Kunes said in her statement that the actions were insensitive and inappropriate. She described the event as an embarrassing ordeal and said she is committed to learning from it. She also requested privacy for her family, alleging they have received death threats and harassment in the days since the video went public.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi is also reviewing complaints regarding the incident. Candi Richardson, the organization's director of communications and community engagement, confirmed on Monday that the group is looking into the matter. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. It remains unclear if the other two women in the video have changed their enrollment status.
Kunes said she can never fully understand the pain caused by her actions. She stated that what she did does not reflect who she is trying to become. The three Black students continue to live in the off-campus apartment where the video was recorded.
