Three Black freshmen at the University of Mississippi say a confrontation with two white women captured in a viral video became even more disturbing when one of the women continued making racist gestures and noises while the other apologized for their behavior.
Jakiyra Metcalf, Kaiyden Caldwell and Victoria G. Johnson described the encounter during an interview with CBS Mornings on Wednesday, Nov. 11, days after footage from Metcalf’s Ring doorbell camera spread across social media and drew widespread condemnation.
Metcalf, 18, said she discovered the recording of the women outside their apartment on Friday, Nov. 6. She and Johnson then went outside to confront the women and ask why they had behaved that way.
According to the students, one of the women, later identified as Alaina Kunes, apologized. The other woman, however, allegedly continued the gestures even as Kunes attempted to express remorse.
“She continued to make the gestures after the girl was apologizing,” Johnson told CBS News correspondent Jericka Duncan. “It was like a slap in the face.”
A GiveSendGo fundraiser identifies the other student as Lauren Mayfield. The fundraiser describes her as the person who continued the racist gestures while Kunes apologized.
The fundraiser titled “Stand With Lauren” defends Mayfield, claiming she did nothing wrong and should face no professional or social consequences while describing Kunes’ apology as “groveling.”
It has raised nearly $22,000, with organizers accusing the university and online critics of unfairly targeting Mayfield.
The 13-second recording shows two white women pounding their chests and making ape-like noises outside the apartment shared by the three Black students. The footage has garnered more than 12 million views on TikTok and prompted an investigation by the university.
Metcalf said she and Johnson approached the women shortly after watching the recording.
“We actually went outside and tried to approach them and get them to explain why they did that,” Metcalf recalled.
Johnson said one of the women tried to explain that they had acted similarly outside other apartments and had not directed their behavior at the students specifically.
“One girl was apologizing. She was like, ‘I’m sorry, we’ve did that to, like, four doors,’” Johnson said. “And mind you, we didn’t see anyone else’s door. It was just ours that was targeted.”
They say the woman also told them, “We didn’t mean any harm.”
Metcalf said that the explanation did not make the conduct acceptable, regardless of whether the women had approached other apartments.
“I said that I don’t think they should go around, even if they did go to other people’s doors and do that,” she said. “I don’t think they should because it’s very disrespectful.”
Metcalf used the word “hurt” to describe her reaction, while Caldwell said she felt “devastated.” Johnson called the experience “very disheartening.”
Kunes publicly acknowledged her involvement in the video on Tuesday, Nov. 10, issuing an apology to the three students and the Ole Miss community. She said she had never met the women before and did not know they were Black, but acknowledged that her behavior was “insensitive, inappropriate, and deeply harmful.”
“I would have never intentionally made those noises or gestures toward a person of color,” Kunes said. “I have apologized to the women, and I pray they will forgive me.”
She also said she could not fully understand the pain her actions caused and insisted the incident did not represent the person she wanted to become.
Kunes, who has since withdrawn from the university after reporting harassment and death threats, said she would cooperate fully with the school’s investigation and asked for privacy for her family.
Asked whether she forgives Kunes, Metcalf said she had not settled on how she felt about the apology.
“I feel like no matter who we are or if she knew our race or not, but the gestures and the noises, I feel like it’s still very disrespectful,” she told Duncan. “I just have mixed feelings about it.”
Caldwell also acknowledged the apology but said it could not undo the experience.
“I appreciate the apology, but I feel like it still doesn’t change what has happened on that Friday because it’s still hurtful and it’s still devastating that someone would come to our door and do that,” she said.
Johnson’s mother, Chiquita Lao, said it troubled her to learn that Kunes withdrew from the university but emphasized that accountability was still important.
“As a human being, I hate to hear that because, you know, the children are our future,” Lao said. “But I feel like everybody needs to be accountable.”
The three freshmen said they plan to remain at Ole Miss and do not intend to let the incident overshadow their college experience. Metcalf, Caldwell, and Johnson are studying psychology, nursing, and radiology, respectively.
Johnson said she hopes speaking publicly will encourage others who encounter similar treatment to report it rather than remain silent.
“I want people to be mindful of their actions, but I also want people who would potentially experience the same situations to speak out and don’t let things be swept under the rug,” she said. “Because this is a reality for us, and I feel like voices need to be heard.”
