University of Mississippi student in monkey-noise video withdraws, her lawyer's spokesperson says
Alaina Kunes, 18, apologized Tuesday, saying she would never intentionally make such noises toward a person of color, and the university is investigating.
A University of Mississippi student who appears in a viral doorbell video has withdrawn from the school, according to a spokesperson for her lawyer. The spokesperson told the New York Post that Alaina Kunes, 18, left voluntarily and was not suspended or asked to leave. The spokesperson denied a TMZ report that harassment drove her out.
The Ring footage is time-stamped Nov. 6 at about 8:37 p.m. It shows women making monkey noises and gestures outside the apartment of Black students. Freshman Jakiyra Metcalf posted it on TikTok and says the women are her upstairs neighbors. The video has been seen nearly 13 million times.
On Tuesday, Kunes apologized, saying she had never met the women, did not know their race and would never intentionally make such gestures toward a person of color. She said her family has received death threats and harassment. Vice Chancellor Shawnboda Mead condemned the behavior, and the university is investigating.
Metcalf's mother, Tasha Bolton, called the video "disgusting and unacceptable" and asked for answers. A university spokesperson did not answer The Guardian's question about whether any discipline has been taken.
- nearly 13m viewsviews of the TikTok video, per The GuardianThe Guardian
- approximately 8:37 p.m.time stamp of the Ring footage on Nov. 6Newsweek
Three sides of the story
12 news outlets reported this
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Liberal5 outlets
University investigation, apology and the school's record
The Independent leads with the university's investigation. It reports that Vice Chancellor Shawnboda Mead called the behavior "deeply troubling, hurtful, and unacceptable," that two campus offices are investigating, and that any discipline would not be made public because of student privacy laws. It also carries Mead's statement that no members of the sorority community were involved.
The Guardian opens with the two women's monkey gestures and a video it says has "nearly 13m views." It quotes Tasha Bolton, Metcalf's mother, and Kunes' apology issued through a Chicago law firm, and notes that a university spokesperson did not answer a question about the women's enrollment status. It recalls a 2014 noose incident and a later episode at a pro-Palestine demonstration.
Yahoo News headlines the apology and quotes Kunes: "I sincerely apologize." The New York Times reports that the university called the video "deeply troubling."
- The Independent: Ole Miss launches investigation after students caught on camera making monkey noises toward home of Black students
- The Guardian: Two white students at University of Mississippi make monkey gestures in Ring video
- Yahoo News: Ole Miss student apologizes for alleged racist taunts in viral doorbell video
Center4 outlets
Alleged incident set against Mississippi racial tensions
Newsweek headlines an "alleged" racist incident and says the footage "appears to show" three young women making monkey noises. It states that it could not reach Metcalf, that the identities of those shown have not been independently verified, and that people named on social media had not responded. It quotes Vice Chancellor Shawnboda Mead saying the incident "is being actively investigated," and Tasha Bolton asking what steps the university will take.
The university referred Newsweek to its Sunday statement. Newsweek then sets the video amid escalating tensions over racism in Mississippi, citing deaths of young Black people, a petition with more than 60,000 signatures about the state's chief medical examiner, and a letter from Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a Texas Democrat. The Hill reports that a University of Mississippi student apologized after a video went viral showing her and friends making racist gestures toward Black students.
It says a doorbell camera caught the scene at off-campus housing.
Conservative3 outlets
Kunes' withdrawal and her family's car business
The New York Post's latest report leads with Kunes' withdrawal from the university, confirmed on Tuesday by a spokesperson for her lawyer. The spokesperson said she was not suspended or asked to leave, and called TMZ's harassment explanation "not true." The paper also reports on Kunes Auto Group, owned by her grandfather, and on a past protest after a customer said a slur was printed on her service sticker.
A company spokesperson said Kunes "has no employment, ownership, or professional affiliation" with it. Another Post piece headlines her admission and carries her apology as given to CBS 58 News. The Post's earlier report and Breitbart News describe the Ring footage, with Metcalf's "What do we have to say about this??" caption.
Both outlets quote a woman who claimed to be the parent of one of the Black students: At that point, the Post said the identities of the women could not be confirmed, and Breitbart said they had not been revealed.
- New York Post: Ole Miss coed caught making racist monkey noises outside black students’ door drops out
- Breitbart News: Video: Ole Miss Coeds Chant Monkey Sounds Outside Black Student's Apartment
- New York Post: Ring camera catches ‘white Ole Miss coeds’ making monkey noises outside black students’ apartment
- New York Post: Ole Miss coed who made monkey noises outside black students’ door fesses up — as dad’s biz comes under fire
- Conservative outlets did not mentionMead said one student was wrongly identified as involved Reported by The Independent, Newsweek
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All sources: 23 articles from 12 outlets
Liberal (9)
- The Boston Globe: Black University of Mississippi students wrestle with forgiveness in wake of racist gestures
- The Guardian: Two white students at University of Mississippi make monkey gestures in Ring video
- The Independent: Ole Miss students who were harassed by white students speak out
- The Independent: Ole Miss launches investigation after students caught on camera making monkey noises toward home of Black students
- Yahoo News: Ole Miss students speak out after viral video of alleged racist taunts
- Yahoo News: Ole Miss student apologizes for alleged racist taunts in viral doorbell video
- Yahoo News: Ole Miss students accused of making racist gestures outside Black students' home
- Yahoo News: Ole Miss investigating 'deeply troubling' video of racist gestures
Center (4)
- NewsNation: University of Mississippi student leaves school amid racist gesture investigation
- Newsweek: Video of Alleged Ole Miss Racist Incident Sparks Investigation
- The Hill: University of Mississippi student apologizes after video with racist gestures goes viral
- The Seattle Times: Black University of Mississippi students wrestle with forgiveness in wake of racist gestures
Conservative (10)
- Breitbart News: Video: Ole Miss Coeds Chant Monkey Sounds Outside Black Student's Apartment
- New York Post: Ole Miss coed who ‘doubled down with monkey noises’ when confronted by black students raises thousands in racist fundraiser
- New York Post: Black Ole Miss students say they immediately confronted classmates who made monkey noises — and one kept doing it
- New York Post: Mom of black Ole Miss freshman speaks out as student Alaina Kunes leaves school after making monkey noise outside daughter’s door
- New York Post: Family business of Ole Miss student who made monkey noises outside black students’ door hit with lawsuit over racism claims
- New York Post: Ole Miss coed caught making racist monkey noises outside black students’ door drops out
- New York Post: Ole Miss coed who made monkey noises outside black students’ door fesses up — as dad’s biz comes under fire
- New York Post: Ole Miss launches investigation into white women who made racist monkey noises outside black students’ apartment
- New York Post: Ring camera catches ‘white Ole Miss coeds’ making monkey noises outside black students’ apartment
- The Daily Wire: College Girl Forced Out Of School After Being Smeared As Racist Over Doorbell Prank
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