Ole Miss Investigates Viral Video of Students Imitating Monkeys
Three white women were captured on a doorbell camera outside a Black student's apartment, prompting a formal university review.
By Carolina Wood ·
The video has been viewed more than 12 million times since it was posted online early this week. The footage shows three white women standing outside an apartment at the University of Mississippi on Friday evening. Two of the women step toward the Ring doorbell camera, beat their chests, and make grunting and cooing sounds. The third woman glances at the lens but does not appear to mimic animals. The clip was shared on TikTok by Jakiyra Metcalf, one of the Black students living in the targeted apartment.
The incident occurred in the same building where the three women reside. They live on the floor above Metcalf and her roommates. Tasha Bolton, whose daughter is among the students in the apartment, said the women in the video are known to the residents. Bolton posted online that she wants to know what steps the university will take to ensure accountability. She described the behavior as disgusting and unacceptable, noting that college should be a place where young adults feel safe. Metcalf tagged the university in her post, asking what the school would say about the events.
University officials first confirmed the details to ABC News on Monday. Vice Chancellor Shawnboda Mead stated that appropriate university offices are actively investigating the incident. She said staff have reached out to the directly impacted students to offer support and connect them with resources. The statement emphasized that every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued. It added that racism and actions that disparage people based on identity have no place in the campus community.
The school confirmed that the women in the video are enrolled students. Representatives said student conduct cases and records are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA. This privacy protection means the university does not have to disclose details about potential disciplinary action. The university did not answer a specific question about whether penalties were already imposed. It noted that it reached out to the targeted students to share information and support.
Metcalf said she and the other Black students were scheduled to meet with university officials on Monday. This meeting follows the viral spread of the clip, which drew widespread outrage online. Many commenters criticized the use of a racist trope comparing Black people to monkeys. The university told ABC News that it is aware of the video and condemns the offensive and hurtful behaviors shown.
This is not the first time similar gestures have been recorded on campus. In 2024, a white student directed monkey gestures at a Black woman protesting the war in Gaza. That interaction was also captured on video. Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce responded to that earlier incident by stating the university supports First Amendment rights while expecting respectful behavior. He said demeaning behaviors conflict with university values. The student involved in the 2024 incident was expelled from his fraternity.
The current investigation is being handled by designated university offices. The university stated it will continue to support the students involved as the process moves forward. The video remains public on social media platforms. The school has not released a timeline for when the investigation will conclude or what specific findings will be shared with the broader campus community.
