A woman who made racist gestures outside an apartment where three Black students lived has spoken out.
asserted
students → make → apartment
The video shows 18-year-old Alaina Kunes and two other White women passing the apartment, which is home to three students at the University of Mississippi - known as Ole Miss.
The clip includes footage recorded on November 6 by a Ring doorbell, which shows the first of the three women hammering on her chest and making monkey noises as she passes the apartment.
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she → show → apartment
A second woman leaps into the air while making monkey sounds, before a third silently walks past.
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third → leap → air
Kunes identified herself as one of the three women in a lengthy statement released by law firm Gardiner Koch Weisberg & Wrona.
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Kunes → identify → Weisberg
“To the women I offended, and to the Ole Miss community, I sincerely apologize,” Kunes wrote.
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Kunes → offend → community
“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.”
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actions → meet → race
“I would have never intentionally made those noises or gestures toward a person of color,” she continued.
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she → make → color
“I have apologized to the women, and I pray they will forgive me.
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they → apologize → me
Kunes added, “I can never truly understand the pain I have caused them, and it was never my intention.”
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it → add → them
A source close to Kunes told NBC News that the 18-year-old has withdrawn from the university.
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old → tell → university
The Independent has contacted Gardiner Koch Weisberg & Wrona and the University of Mississippi for comment.
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Independent → contact → comment
Tasha Bolton told Action 5 News that the video of the viral incident belongs to her daughter, a Black freshman at the university who shares an off-campus apartment with two Black roommates.
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who → tell → roommates
The Bolton family are preparing to release a statement.
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family → prepare → statement
In a statement, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead labelled the behavior in the video as “deeply troubling, hurtful, and unacceptable.”
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Mead → label → video
Mead also noted that an investigation has been launched into the incident and warned against sharing misinformation on social media.
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investigation → note → media
According to the vice chancellor, one student had been “incorrectly identified” as being in the video.
uncertain
student → accord → video
Kunes’ attorneys stated that her father, Scott Kunes, is a former COO at Kunes Auto Group, which is owned by his father, Gregg.
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which → state → father
The 18-year-old has never worked for the company, nor has any ownership of it, attorneys say.
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attorneys → work → it
Amid the huge backlash to the viral video, Kunes has claimed that her family has received death threats.
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family → claim → threats
“Over the past several days, my family and I have received death threats and harassment,” she wrote.
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she → receive → threats
“I am grateful for the authorities working to ensure our safety.
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I → work → safety
As I intend to cooperate fully with the University’s investigation, I ask for privacy for my family.
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I → intend → family
“I understand the seriousness of this situation and remain committed to taking responsibility and learning from this embarrassing ordeal.”
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I → understand → ordeal
In August, a Wisconsin woman named Makayla Starks filed a lawsuit against Kunes Buick GMC - which is associated with Kunes Auto Group - alleging that a racist slur had been printed on an oil change sticker.
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slur → name → sticker
The lawsuit, reviewed by The Wisconsin Law Journal, states that the incident unfolded in January 2025.
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incident → review → January
In a statement released in February 2025, a spokesperson for Kunes Auto Group said the employee involved was terminated and that the firm contacted Starks to apologize to her.
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firm → release → her
The group has also addressed the video in which the 18-year-old Kunes appears.
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Kunes → address → which
“The individual in the video has no employment, ownership, or professional affiliation with Kunes Auto Group,” the statement, obtained by TMJ4 reads.
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statement → have → TMJ4
“We do not comment on private citizens unaffiliated with the company.
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We → comment → company
“Our organization is built on treating every person with dignity and respect, and we do our best to live out those values every day.”
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we → build → values
The Aporia
