The mother of one of the three Black Ole Miss roommates who caught the monkey noises on their doorbell camera has a take a lot of people didn’t see coming. She isn’t celebrating Alaina Kunes leaving school. She’s worried about her.
The mom, who hasn’t been named in the reports I found, spoke out Wednesday during a sit-down with CBS Mornings and correspondent Jericka Duncan. The three roommates joined her for the interview, which came after Kunes decided to end her studies at Ole Miss. When asked how she felt about Kunes walking away, the mother kept it honest.
“I hate that she withdrew from the school,” she said, explaining that a move like that can follow a young person for years. She also pointed out that “that’s somebody’s child,” and she doesn’t like seeing teenagers who’ve barely started college lose their footing. Her bigger message was a plea for young people to slow down and think before they act.
Meanwhile, one of the girls said she believes it was good choice for Kunes’ own safety. The full interview is expected to air soon.
A CBS Mornings Exclusive: The University of Mississippi freshmen who captured the viral video of two white students making monkey gestures and sounds outside their apartment door speak out for the first time. The students and one of their mothers tell @Jerickaduncan how they feel now that one of the students involved has voluntarily withdrawn from the school.— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) November 11, 2026
As we previously reported, this all started Friday, November 6, when a Ring camera at a Black student’s door recorded Kunes and another woman thumping their chests and howling like monkeys as they walked by. A third woman walked past and glanced at the door. The clip went viral over the weekend and set off a national conversation about racism on a campus with a heavy history.
In a statement, Kunes said she never met the women and didn’t know their race before the video surfaced. She called her actions “insensitive, inappropriate, and deeply harmful” and said she would cooperate with the school’s investigation. But not everybody is buying the “I didn’t know” angle.
Another mother, Tasha Bolton, whose daughter is one of the roommates, argued on Facebook that Kunes couldn’t have been a stranger since she lived right upstairs. One Ole Miss freshman told Action News 5 that seeing the video made her feel uneasy because “it can happen right now to me or somebody.”
The university has been clear about where it stands. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead called the behavior “deeply troubling, hurtful, and unacceptable,” and the school has opened an investigation.
The reasons behind Kunes leaving are still disputed. Sources close to her told TMZ she withdrew voluntarily because of harassment from other students and the community, not because the school suspended or expelled her. However, a spokesperson for her lawyer disputed the idea that harassment drove the decision. Kunes herself said her family has received death threats and harassment. The second woman who made the gestures hasn’t been identified or come forward.
We will continue to keep you updated as we follow this story.
The mother of one of the three Black Ole Miss roommates who caught the monkey noises on their doorbell camera has a take a lot of people didn’t see coming. She isn’t celebrating Alaina Kunes leaving school. She’s worried about her.
The mom, who hasn’t been named in the reports I found, spoke out Wednesday during a sit-down with CBS Mornings and correspondent Jericka Duncan. The three roommates joined her for the interview, which came after Kunes decided to end her studies at Ole Miss. When asked how she felt about Kunes walking away, the mother kept it honest.
“I hate that she withdrew from the school,” she said, explaining that a move like that can follow a young person for years. She also pointed out that “that’s somebody’s child,” and she doesn’t like seeing teenagers who’ve barely started college lose their footing. Her bigger message was a plea for young people to slow down and think before they act.
Meanwhile, one of the girls said she believes it was good choice for Kunes’ own safety. The full interview is expected to air soon.
As we previously reported, this all started Friday, November 6, when a Ring camera at a Black student’s door recorded Kunes and another woman thumping their chests and howling like monkeys as they walked by. A third woman walked past and glanced at the door. The clip went viral over the weekend and set off a national conversation about racism on a campus with a heavy history.
In a statement, Kunes said she never met the women and didn’t know their race before the video surfaced. She called her actions “insensitive, inappropriate, and deeply harmful” and said she would cooperate with the school’s investigation. But not everybody is buying the “I didn’t know” angle.
Another mother, Tasha Bolton, whose daughter is one of the roommates, argued on Facebook that Kunes couldn’t have been a stranger since she lived right upstairs. One Ole Miss freshman told Action News 5 that seeing the video made her feel uneasy because “it can happen right now to me or somebody.”
The university has been clear about where it stands. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead called the behavior “deeply troubling, hurtful, and unacceptable,” and the school has opened an investigation.
The reasons behind Kunes leaving are still disputed. Sources close to her told TMZ she withdrew voluntarily because of harassment from other students and the community, not because the school suspended or expelled her. However, a spokesperson for her lawyer disputed the idea that harassment drove the decision. Kunes herself said her family has received death threats and harassment. The second woman who made the gestures hasn’t been identified or come forward.
We will continue to keep you updated as we follow this story.