Oklahoma State investigation launched after viral video shows students making monkey gestures

The University of Mississippi has opened an investigation following the release of a surveillance video that captured two white students making widely criticized monkey gestures. The clip, which has accumulated nearly 13 million views, has sparked significant outrage over its perceived racist connotations and has prompted a formal review of the incident by the university administration.

The footage was originally recorded by a Ring doorbell camera installed at the apartment of freshman Jakiyra Metcalf. On Saturday, Metcalf shared the video on TikTok, where it quickly went viral. The clip shows one woman thumping her chest and making babbling sounds, while a second woman jumps into the frame to mimic primate noises.

According to Tasha Bolton, the mother of the student who posted the video, her daughter lives with two Black roommates. The women seen in the recording are described as her upstairs neighbors. Bolton expressed her frustration on social media, stating that college should be a safe environment for young adults to learn and grow. She called the incident disgusting and unacceptable in a post on Facebook.

Alaina Kunes, one of the 18-year-old students featured in the video, issued an apology through a statement released by a Chicago law firm. While she expressed remorse, she maintained that her actions were not intentionally related to race. Kunes stated that she had never meant to make those specific noises or gestures toward a person of color. She added that she has apologized to the affected women and hopes for their forgiveness.

In her statement, Kunes also mentioned that her family has faced harassment and death threats in the days since the video was released. She expressed gratitude to the authorities for helping ensure their safety. Kunes said she intends to cooperate fully with the university's investigation and requested privacy for her family during this time. She acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and committed to taking responsibility for the embarrassing ordeal.

Shawnboda Mead, the vice-chancellor for student affairs at the university, condemned the actions seen in the video in a statement released on Sunday. Mead emphasized that every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued within the campus community. She stated that racism and behaviors that disparage individuals based on their identity have no place at the University of Mississippi.

Mead also advised the campus community to refrain from sharing unverified information regarding who was involved in the incident. The university has reached out to the affected students to offer support and to hear their concerns directly. A university spokesperson did not respond to a Tuesday inquiry regarding the enrollment status of the women involved or whether any disciplinary measures had already been taken.

The incident adds to a history of troubling racial events at the university. In 2014, members of a fraternity hung a noose around a statue that commemorated the school's first Black student. More recently, about a decade ago, some white male counter-protesters directed monkey noises at a Black female protester during a pro-Palestine demonstration.

The family of Jakiyra Metcalf is currently choosing not to speak publicly about the full extent of the ordeal, according to Brooks Bolton, Tasha Bolton's husband. As the investigation continues, the university aims to determine the appropriate next steps for both the involved students and the broader campus community.