Black Ole Miss students respond to video of racist gestures and apology from Wisconsin teen
November 13, 2026, 5:07 a.m. CT
“Hurt,” “devastated” and “disheartening” were the words three Black Ole Miss students used to describe their reactions to a viral video of racist gestures outside their apartment on November 6.
Speaking publicly for the first time in a Nov. 11 interview with “CBS Mornings,” Jakirya Metcalf, Victoria Johnson and Kaiyden Caldwell, all 18, shared their reactions to the incident, their confrontation with the white women involved and an apology from one of them.
Metcalf, who posted the video to social media on Nov. 7, told “CBS Mornings” that she was the first to discover the Ring camera footage. She and Johnson confronted Alaina Kunes, 18, and the two other women before Metcalf posted the video online.
“We actually went outside and tried to approach them and ask them to explain why they did that,” Metcalf said.
Johnson said seeing the footage was disheartening and that Kunes apologized shortly after the incident.
Kunes of Elkhorn is the granddaughter of Gregg Kunes, founder of Kunes Auto Group, a Milwaukee-based auto dealership group that operates more than a dozen dealerships in the area.
“One girl was apologizing. She was like, I’m sorry, we did this to like four doors,” Johnson said. “And mind you, we didn’t see anyone else’s door. It was just ours that was targeted, and she said we meant no harm.”
But the women said the second woman in the video, who they say lives in their apartment complex, continued to make the gestures despite Kunes’ apology.
“She continued to make these gestures after the girl apologized,” Johnson said. “It was like a slap in the face. Like we didn’t care.”
The women said the third woman made no gestures or noises in the video and said nothing when Metcalf and Johnson confronted the group.
Metcalf said that whether or not the women made the same gestures outside other apartments, their actions were disrespectful.
“I don’t think they should go around, even if they went to other people’s houses and did that, I don’t think they should do that because it’s very disrespectful,” Metcalf said.
Metcalf said the women’s reaction when confronted was the catalyst for his decision to post the video online. Since its posting, the video has been viewed more than 13 million times and garnered national attention.
Three Black Ole Miss students share mixed feelings about Kunes’ apology
In a statement shared with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Nov. 10, Kunes apologized and said her actions were “insensitive, inappropriate and deeply harmful.” She said she had never met the women who lived in the apartment and was “unaware of their race.”
“I would never intentionally make those noises or gestures toward a person of color,” Kunes said. “I have apologized to the women and pray that they forgive me. I will never be able to truly understand the pain I caused them and that was never my intention.”
All three women expressed mixed feelings about the apology, saying the incident remained hurtful despite Kunes’ acknowledgment of his actions.
“I feel like it doesn’t matter who we are, or if she knew our race or not, but the gestures and the noises, I feel like it was still very disrespectful,” Metcalf said. “I just have mixed feelings about it.”
Caldwell said the incident still pains him to think about.
“I appreciate the apology, but I feel like it still doesn’t change what happened that Friday, because it’s still hurtful and it’s still devastating that someone would come on camera and do that,” Caldwell said.
Chiquita Laó, Johnson’s mother, who was also present during the interview, said she was saddened to learn that Kunes had withdrawn from the university, but believed everyone involved should be held accountable for their actions.
“As a human being, I hate to hear this because, you know, children are the future, but I feel like everyone needs to be held accountable,” Laó said. “I’m really passionate about education. Even though she did this, I hate that she dropped out of school.”
Johnson encouraged those who have experienced similar incidents to speak out rather than remaining silent.
“I want people to be aware of their actions, so I also want those who might be experiencing the same situations to speak up and not let things be swept under the rug, because it’s a reality for us, and I feel like voices need to be heard,” Johnson said.
Despite the incident, Metcalf, Caldwell and Johnson said they plan to stay at Ole Miss and will not let this experience interfere with their education.
The University of Mississippi is investigating the incident
University of Mississippi Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead issued a statement on November 8 condemning the video after seeing “racist gestures directed at other students.”
“We are committed to following our established processes to ensure thorough review while prioritizing the safety and well-being of our university community,” Mead wrote.
Mead said the university is taking the investigation seriously, but student privacy laws limit what can be publicly disclosed about possible disciplinary action.
Adrienne Davis is a general assignment and breaking news reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Do you have any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
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