Alaina Kunes, an 18-year-old Ole Miss freshman, has issued an apology. Her statement followed a viral video showing students making monkey noises outside Black students’ apartment. Kunes described her behavior as insensitive while insisting she never intended racial harm.
Alaina Kunes apologizes for monkey noises outside Black students’ apartment
According to TMZ, Alaina Kunes released a statement on Tuesday, November 10, addressing the November 6 incident. She apologized to the women involved and the wider university community. However, she maintained that she had not known the women’s race beforehand.
“Before the incident on November 6, I never met the women involved and was unaware of their race,” Kunes stated. She acknowledged that her actions were “insensitive, inappropriate, and deeply harmful.” She also insisted she would never intentionally target someone of color with such gestures.
Kunes claimed she had personally apologized to the women involved. She also acknowledged that she could never fully understand the pain she had caused, adding that they “deserve to feel seen and understood.”
The video showed two women making monkey noises and gestures outside the apartment. A third woman walked behind them and appeared to glance toward the door. The footage was reportedly captured by a Ring camera and subsequently circulated online.
Kunes also addressed the backlash following the video’s release. She claimed that she and her family had received death threats and faced harassment. She thanked authorities for helping protect them and requested privacy.
Kunes also said she intended to cooperate fully with the university’s investigation. The incident has attracted attention from civil rights advocates, with the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi confirming that it was reviewing complaints related to the footage.
Although Kunes acknowledged the harm caused by her actions, she maintained that she had not known the women’s race beforehand. The university is continuing its investigation to determine whether disciplinary action is warranted.
Kunes said her actions did not reflect the person she hopes to become. However, the incident continues to raise questions about racism and accountability on college campuses.
