An 18-year-old former University of Mississippi student has apologized after a doorbell camera recorded women making racist gestures outside an apartment shared by three Black students.
Alaina Kunes acknowledged her actions in a statement on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. The video, filmed November 6 in Oxford, Mississippi, spread widely online and prompted a university investigation.
What Did the Ole Miss Doorbell Video Show?
Footage from a Ring doorbell camera showed three white women walking past the entrance to an off-campus apartment.
Two of the women appeared to make monkey sounds and gestures. One also beat her chest. The third walked past without making the same gestures, according to news reports.
The apartment was home to three Black women attending the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss.
Jakiyra Metcalf, one of the residents, shared the footage on TikTok. By November 10, the video had been viewed more than 12 million times, according to ABC News.
ABC News reported on the video and the university's response on November 9.
Alaina Kunes Apologizes for Her Actions
Kunes, 18, was identified as one of the women who made the gestures. On November 10, she issued a statement apologizing to the residents and the wider university community.
She described her actions as “insensitive, inappropriate, and deeply harmful.”
Kunes said she had never met the residents and did not know their race before the incident. She denied intending to direct racist behavior toward a person of color.
She also said she had apologized to the women directly and hoped they would forgive her. Kunes pledged to cooperate with the university investigation.
These statements reflect Kunes' account. They do not resolve how the residents experienced the incident or the questions being examined by university officials.
NBC News reported Kunes' statement on November 10.
Is Alaina Kunes Still a Student at Ole Miss?
The University of Mississippi confirmed to local news outlet Action News 5 that Kunes was no longer a student as of November 10.
NBC News also reported, citing a source close to Kunes, that she had withdrawn from the university.
The school's confirmation alone did not establish whether her departure was voluntary or connected to formal disciplinary action.
The enrollment status of the other women in the video had not been publicly clarified in the initial reports.
WTVA published the university's confirmation on November 10.
University Opens Investigation After Video Goes Viral
Ole Miss officials condemned the behavior and said the incident was being reviewed through appropriate university channels.
The university said it had contacted the affected students to offer support and resources.
Shawnboda Mead, the vice chancellor for student affairs, confirmed that an investigation was underway.
The school also noted that federal student privacy rules limit what it can disclose about student conduct proceedings or possible penalties.
As of the reporting reviewed on November 11, university officials had not publicly announced a final investigation outcome.
Family of Student Calls for Accountability
Tasha Bolton, the mother of one of the apartment residents, spoke out after the footage began circulating.
Bolton said her daughter was a freshman living with two other Black students. She identified the women filmed at the door as upstairs neighbors.
In a Facebook post, Bolton said college students should be able to learn and live in a safe environment. She called for answers about how the incident would be handled.
According to local reporting, the family had consulted an attorney and wanted to speak with university officials.
Action News 5 reported the family's concerns.
Kunes Says Her Family Has Received Threats
In her apology, Kunes said she and her relatives had been subjected to harassment and death threats after the video went viral.
She asked for privacy for her family while the university continued its investigation.
Those allegations are separate from the conduct captured in the video. Threats and harassment should not be treated as an acceptable response to the incident.
What Happens Next?
The university investigation will determine what steps its officials take under school procedures.
The public reporting confirms that Kunes apologized and is no longer enrolled. It does not establish a final disciplinary finding against her or the other women.
Meanwhile, the three apartment residents have received outreach from the university following widespread attention to the video.
The incident has raised questions about racial harassment, accountability and student safety at Ole Miss.
Sources
- NBC News — Woman apologizes for racist gestures outside Ole Miss students' apartment, November 10, 2026
- ABC News — University investigates viral doorbell video, November 9, 2026
- ABC News — Student issues apology, November 10, 2026
- WTVA — University confirms Kunes is no longer a student, November 10, 2026