University of Mississippi officials announced Monday that they are actively investigating a viral TikTok video that appears to show three white women outside a Black student’s apartment making racist noises and gestures. The footage, captured by a Ring doorbell camera, shows two of the women stepping toward the camera, beating their chests while grunting and cooing like monkeys. A third woman looks toward the lens but does not make the same gestures.
University response
Vice Chancellor Shawnboda Mead issued a statement saying, “The incident is being actively investigated by the appropriate university offices. Our staff have reached out to the students directly impacted to offer support, listen to their concerns, and connect them with available resources. We will continue to support them as we work through this process.” The statement added, “Every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued at the University of Mississippi. Racism and actions that disparage people because of an aspect of their identity have no place in our campus community.”
Public reaction and background
The video, which has amassed more than 12 million views, sparked outrage online, with many commenters decrying the use of the racist trope that compares Black people to monkeys. Ole Miss confirmed to ABC News that the women in the video are enrolled students, but declined to comment on whether disciplinary action has been taken, citing FERPA protections for student conduct records.
Jakiyra Metcalf, one of the Black students living in the apartment, told ABC News that she expects to meet with university officials on Monday. She posted the video to TikTok over the weekend, asking, “What do we have to say about this ??” Tasha Bolton, whose daughter is one of the Black students, also demanded answers, calling the behavior “absolutely disgusting and unacceptable” and urging the university to ensure accountability.
Previous incident and university policy
A similar episode occurred at Ole Miss in 2024 when a white student made monkey gestures toward a Black woman protesting the war in Gaza. That incident was captured on video, and the student was ultimately expelled from his fraternity. Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce emphasized the university’s commitment to First Amendment rights while condemning conduct that conflicts with the institution’s values, stating that such behavior marginalizes individuals and undermines a civil, safe society.
The university reiterated that it is “committed to supporting the rights of our students, faculty, and employees to express their views in a respectful manner and to assemble peacefully as guaranteed by the First Amendment,” while also noting that any conduct that demeans people because of race or ethnicity will be addressed.
Next steps
Ole Miss officials said they will continue to investigate the incident, work with the affected students, and determine appropriate actions in line with university policy and federal privacy protections. The university encourages anyone with additional information to contact campus authorities.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
