Ole Miss Black students speak out after viral video shows white women making monkey noises outside their apartment

OXFORD, Miss. — Three Black University of Mississippi students are speaking out after a viral video captured white women making monkey noises and gestures outside their apartment.

Freshmen Jakiyra Metcalf, Kaiyden Caldwell and Victoria Johnson described the disturbing encounter during a Wednesday interview with CBS Good Mornings.

The students said they confronted the women shortly after discovering the footage. However, they allege one woman continued making offensive gestures even as another apologized.

The Nov. 6 incident sparked widespread outrage, prompted a university investigation and led one student to withdraw from Ole Miss.

Despite the controversy, the three roommates say they intend to remain at the university.

Ole Miss Students Describe Confronting Women in Viral Video

The incident unfolded Friday evening outside an off-campus apartment in Oxford, Mississippi.

Around 8:37 p.m., a Ring doorbell camera recorded three white women walking past the students’ apartment. Two approached the camera, beat their chests and made monkey-like noises.

The third woman appeared to watch but did not participate in the gestures.

Metcalf later shared the 13-second recording on TikTok, where it attracted more than 12 million views.

During their interview with CBS News correspondent Jericka Duncan, the roommates described what happened after they discovered the footage.

“We actually went outside and tried to, like, approach them and get them to explain why they did that,” Metcalf said.

Johnson said one woman claimed the group had behaved similarly outside four apartments.

However, the roommates questioned that explanation because their camera only captured the behavior outside their door.

The students said Alaina Kunes, one of the women in the video, apologized during the confrontation.

But Johnson alleged another woman continued making the gestures.

“She continued to make the gestures after the girl was apologizing,” Johnson told CBS News. “It was like a slap in the face.”

Students Respond to Alaina Kunes’ Apology

Kunes, 18, publicly identified herself as one of the women in the video on Tuesday, Nov. 10, issuing a statement apologizing to the students and the Ole Miss community, acknowledging that her actions were offensive and harmful.

In a statement, she said she had never met the apartment’s residents and did not know their race.

She maintained that she never intended to direct racist behavior toward anyone.

Kunes also said she regretted the incident and hoped the women would forgive her.

“I would have never intentionally made those noises or gestures toward a person of color,” Kunes said. “I have apologized to the women and I pray they will forgive me.”

“I can never truly understand the pain I have caused them and it was never my intention,” she continued. “These girls deserve to feel seen and understood and what I did is not a reflection of who I am trying to become.”

However, the apology did not erase the emotional impact on the roommates.

“I appreciate the apology, but I feel like it still doesn’t change what happened on that Friday, because it’s still hurtful and it’s still devastating that someone would come to our camera and do that,” Caldwell told CBS News.

Metcalf also expressed mixed feelings about forgiveness. She said the behavior remained disrespectful regardless of whether Kunes knew who lived inside.

Kunes subsequently withdrew from the university. Sources close to her told TMZ that she experienced harassment following the video’s circulation.

University Investigates Alleged Racial Harassment

University officials condemned the incident and launched an investigation following the video’s circulation.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead said in a statement the behavior contradicted the university’s commitment to a respectful campus environment.

The university’s Office of Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct and Office of Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance are reviewing the incident.

Meanwhile, officials have contacted the affected students and offered support.

The controversy also revived discussions about the university’s history of racial discrimination.

Ole Miss admitted its first Black student, James Meredith, in 1962, amid violent resistance to integration.

Although decades have passed, the roommates said the incident demonstrated that racial hostility remains a concern for Black students.

Mother Calls for Accountability as Students Vow to Stay

Johnson’s mother, Chiquita Laó, also joined the CBS interview and expressed concern about Kunes’ withdrawal.

Rather than celebrating her departure, Laó said she worried about the consequences for the young woman’s future.

Still, she emphasized that students must take responsibility for their actions.

The three roommates said they would leave disciplinary decisions to university officials.

For now, Metcalf, Caldwell and Johnson intend to continue their education at Ole Miss.

They also hope their experience encourages other students to report racial harassment instead of remaining silent.

Johnson urged people to consider how their behavior affects others and stressed the importance of speaking out.

The university has not publicly announced disciplinary findings against the other women involved.