Alaina Kunes Apologizes After Ole Miss Video Shows Her Making Monkey Noises

Alaina Kunes, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Mississippi, has apologized after a video showed her making monkey noises and gestures near the door of several Black students. In a statement released Tuesday, Kunes said she was sorry to the women involved and to the university community. “Before the incident on November 6, I never met the women involved and was unaware of their race,” Kunes said, while acknowledging that her actions were “insensitive, inappropriate, and deeply harmful.” She said she had personally apologized to the women and would not intentionally direct such noises or gestures at a person of color. Kunes added that she could not fully understand the hurt caused by her behavior. She said the women deserved to feel seen and understood, and described the incident as inconsistent with the person she hopes to become. The freshman also said that she and her family had faced death threats and harassment since the video spread online. She thanked authorities for helping protect them, said she would cooperate fully with the university’s investigation and asked for privacy. The clip showed two women making noises and gestures as they passed several doors, while a third person walked behind them and glanced toward one doorway. The report said sources characterized the activity as silly fun, claiming the group had been making animal noises at multiple doors. The American Civil Liberties Union has also become involved, saying it was examining several complaints.