Ole Miss Students Made Monkey Noises at Multiple Doors, Sparking Racism Scandal
Source: Ben Shapiro · All Ben Shapiro reports
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Summary
Ben Shapiro's segment analyzes a viral Ring doorbell video from November 6, 2026, showing two white Ole Miss freshmen, Alaina Kunes and Lauren Mayfield, making monkey noises and chest-beating gestures while passing the apartment of three Black students. The university issued statements condemning the behavior, launched an investigation, and met with impacted students. Kunes publicly apologized, stating she was unaware of their race and had done the same at four doors; she withdrew from the university. Media outlets reported on Kunes' family ties to Kunes Auto Group, which had faced prior racism allegations. A GoFundMe-style fundraiser supported Mayfield for refusing to apologize. Shapiro argues the incident was equal-opportunity drunken idiocy mischaracterized as targeted racism.
Editorial Assessment
The broadcast accurately notes the multi-door claim originating from Kunes herself during the confrontation, but viewers miss critical context: the Black students immediately disputed that account in CBS interviews, insisting their door was singled out and that Mayfield continued the gestures after Kunes apologized, calling it a 'slap in the face.' The framing heavily leans on minimizing harm from historically loaded gestures associated with dehumanizing Black people, while portraying university concern and media attention as hysteria. Family business reporting, though tangential, stemmed from documented prior incidents at Kunes dealerships, including a racial slur on a service sticker. Overall, the piece prioritizes cultural critique of 'demand for racism' over balanced reporting on the victims' perspective and Ole Miss's history of racial tensions, potentially skewing perception toward viewing the backlash as unjustified overreach.
Key Moments
Drunk college freshmen made monkey noises and gestures in front of a Black students' Ring camera, sparking a national scandal and university investigation
Video from Nov. 6, 2026, went viral with 12+ million TikTok views; Ole Miss Vice Chancellor Shawnboda Mead and Chancellor Glenn Boyce condemned it as racist and launched probes.
Media dug up material on one student's family car dealership business in response to the video
CBS Chicago, Fox Wisconsin, and others reported Kunes family ties to Kunes Auto Group, which faced 2025 racial slur and ape-image complaints; company stated Alaina had no ownership or employment role.
Alaina Kunes apologized, saying she was unaware of their race and that her actions were deeply harmful
Exact quote from her Nov. 10 statement via law firm; she withdrew from Ole Miss and said she had personally apologized to the women.
The students made the same silly gestures at four separate Ring cameras that night and were not targeting Black residents
Kunes told the Black students this during confrontation per their CBS Mornings interview, but they disputed it, saying only their door was targeted and the second woman continued gestures afterward.
University Chancellor issued statement denouncing the actions and supporting impacted students
Glenn Boyce's statement matched the transcript, condemning actions disparaging identity and confirming the investigation was moving forward.
Notable Concerns
- Dismissal of the victims' reported feelings and direct confrontation details as oversensitivity
- Heavy reliance on the perpetrators' account of the incident while downplaying counter-statements from the Black students
- Partisan framing that attributes the national attention primarily to media and activist exaggeration rather than the video's content and campus context
Sources Consulted
- University of Mississippi investigating "deeply troubling" video showing racist gestures
- Video of Alleged Ole Miss Racist Incident Sparks Investigation
- Ole Miss student apologizes after doorbell video sparks outrage, investigation
- Black Ole Miss students speak out after viral Ring camera video
- Student in viral Ole Miss video making 'racist' taunts from Wisconsin
- Ole Miss Students Spark Outrage After Video Shows Them Making Racist Gestures
- Ole Miss investigating video showing racist behavior
- Ole Miss incident is not the only one tied to Kunes Auto Group