Two employees at Kunes Auto Group, a long‑standing automobile dealership in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, confirmed that a student appearing in a viral video filmed at the University of Mississippi is the daughter of a top executive at the company. The video, which shows the student making monkey gestures and noises outside a Black roommate’s apartment, has sparked nationwide condemnation.
Local perspective and response
Carolyn Word, a longtime customer who purchased four vehicles from Kunes Auto Group, said the incident felt like “a blast from the past” and highlighted how such behavior reflects lingering prejudice. Word shared text messages from March in which a sales representative sent her memes depicting a bear and an ape in a skirt, adding to her sense of humiliation.
Legal commentary
Civil‑rights attorney William Sulton, who also represented a woman previously profiled by FOX6 after receiving a N‑word‑stained oil‑change sticker, said the incident underscores a pattern of racism that appears to permeate the family and the business. “People are right to draw this connection,” Sulton said, urging the company to acknowledge the mistake and take corrective action.
Kunes Auto Group statement
The dealership issued a statement asserting that the individual in the video has no employment, ownership, or professional affiliation with Kunes Auto Group. “We do not comment on private citizens unaffiliated with the company,” the statement read, adding that the organization is “built on treating every person with dignity and respect” and that it strives to live out those values daily.
University of Mississippi reaction
The University of Mississippi condemned the video, calling the behavior “deeply troubling, hurtful, and unacceptable” and stating it does not reflect the university’s values.
Next steps
FOX6 News attempted to reach the Kunes family for comment but received no response. The controversy continues to draw attention to how businesses address allegations of racism and the importance of transparent, values‑driven leadership.
Original reporting: FOX6 WITI – local news — read the source article.
