A University of Mississippi student identified in a viral video showing women making monkey noises and gestures outside a Black student’s apartment has received significant financial support, with a fundraiser launched in her defence raising more than $42,000.
Lauren Mayfield has attracted online backing following the incident, with the organiser of the fundraising campaign claiming she did nothing wrong and should not face disciplinary or professional consequences.
Fundraiser Organiser Claims Mayfield Did Nothing Wrong
The GiveSendGo campaign, organised by Tom Hennessey, had raised $42,584 towards its $50,000 target at the time of reporting.
The fundraiser aims to provide Mayfield with financial assistance to cover potential lost income, opportunities and other expenses arising from the controversy.
In the campaign description, Hennessey argued that Mayfield had not assaulted anyone or broken the law, claiming she had simply made noises in a public walkway.
He described the university’s response and the online backlash as an attempt to treat what he called a juvenile stunt as a hate crime because the residents involved were Black.
Hennessey also alleged that incidents involving similar controversies often lead to university investigations, public criticism, demands for apologies and damage to individuals’ professional and social lives.
He claimed Mayfield was facing expulsion, doxxing, death threats and possible career destruction.
Organiser Threatens to Cancel Fundraiser if She Apologises
Hennessey made it clear that the campaign was intended to support Mayfield without requiring her to issue an apology or publicly accept responsibility.
He wrote: “No apologies. No ‘I didn’t know.’ No bending the knee.”
The organiser also threatened to cancel the fundraiser if Mayfield decided to apologise.
His comments come after another student identified in the footage, Alaina Kunes, publicly apologised and voluntarily withdrew from the University of Mississippi.
Ring Camera Captures Women Making Monkey Gestures
The controversy began on November 6 when footage from a Ring doorbell camera outside an apartment occupied by Black students captured several women making monkey noises and gestures.
Lauren Mayfield and Alaina Kunes were identified as two of the women involved.
Jakirya Metcalf, a freshman who lived in the apartment, said she was inside when she reviewed the footage from her security camera.
The video, timestamped at approximately 8.37pm, showed Kunes approaching the apartment door, banging her chest and making monkey noises.
Mayfield subsequently joined her, making similar noises while jumping up and down in a manner that appeared to imitate a monkey. She then followed Kunes while laughing.
A third woman was also seen walking behind them, smiling as she passed the apartment, although she did not make any noises.
Students Say They Confronted the Women After Watching Footage
Metcalf told CBS Mornings that she and her roommates went outside to confront the women and ask them why they had behaved that way.
“We actually went outside and tried to, like, approach them and get them to explain why they did that,” she said.
Another roommate, Victoria Johnson, said one of the women claimed they had done the same thing outside four different apartment doors.
Johnson disputed that explanation, saying their apartment was the only one they had seen being targeted.
She also recalled one of the women saying they had not intended to cause harm.
According to Johnson and Metcalf, Kunes apologised, but Mayfield continued making the gestures.
Johnson described the behaviour as hurtful, saying Mayfield continued even while the other student was apologising.
Kunes Issues Public Apology Before Withdrawing From University
Kunes issued a public statement on Tuesday, apologising to the women involved and the wider university community.
She said she had never met the women before the November 6 incident and did not know their race.
However, she acknowledged that her behaviour was insensitive, inappropriate and deeply harmful.
Kunes also said she would never intentionally make such noises or gestures towards a person of colour.
She added that she had personally apologised to the women and hoped they would forgive her.
Metcalf said the apology left her with mixed feelings, explaining that the behaviour remained disrespectful regardless of whether Kunes knew their racial identities.
Another roommate, Kaiyden Caldwell, said she appreciated the apology but stressed that it did not change what had happened.
Kunes subsequently voluntarily withdrew from the University of Mississippi.
Roommate Says Apology Did Not Undo the Harm
Caldwell said the incident remained upsetting despite Kunes’ apology.
She explained that the experience was still hurtful and devastating, particularly because the women had approached their security camera and behaved that way outside their home.
Johnson’s mother, Chiquita Laó, also commented on Kunes’ decision to leave the university.
Speaking to CBS Mornings, she said she was disappointed to hear about the withdrawal but maintained that everyone involved needed to be held accountable.
She added that young people were the future and that accountability remained important.
Video Shared Online as Family Demands University Action
The footage was initially shared on Facebook by Tasha Bolton, who identified herself as the mother of one of the students living in the apartment.
Bolton said her daughter had sent her the Ring camera recording and explained that she was a freshman at the University of Mississippi living with two Black roommates.
She also said the women seen in the footage lived in an apartment upstairs.
According to Bolton, the video had been forwarded to university administrators, and the family wanted answers.
She described the incident as unacceptable, arguing that universities should provide environments where young adults can learn, develop and feel safe.
Roommate Provides Further Details About the Incident
Another student, Bethany Joyy, shared additional details about the confrontation in a Facebook post.
Joyy said she and her roommates had previously spoken to the women about noise in the apartment building.
She recalled hearing the monkey noises while sitting on her couch, with another roommate in a nearby room.
After checking the Ring camera footage, the students approached the women and told them their behaviour was disrespectful.
Joyy claimed the noises continued during the confrontation and that the women later returned to apologise after the video had been uploaded online.
According to her account, the women described their behaviour as “stimming” and said they had been making animal noises in people’s Ring cameras.
Joyy also questioned the explanation, pointing out that another security camera across the hallway had not been targeted.
She further alleged that one of the first questions raised after the apology concerned whether the video would be deleted.
Joyy said she and her roommates had not intended to encourage harassment or attacks against the women.
Instead, she said they wanted to feel safe in their home and had reported the incident to their property manager and university officials.
University Condemns Behaviour and Launches Investigation
The University of Mississippi responded to the controversy through a statement issued by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead on Sunday night.
Mead described the behaviour shown in the circulating footage as deeply troubling, hurtful and unacceptable.
She said the university condemned the actions, adding that they did not represent its values or the community it sought to build.
According to Mead, university officials had contacted the students directly affected by the incident and launched an investigation.
She reiterated that every student deserved to feel safe, respected and valued at the institution.
Mead also stated that racism and actions targeting individuals because of their identities had no place in the university community.
The university said it remained committed to upholding dignity and respect while ensuring that students felt cared for and included.
