Ole Miss Racism Scandal Takes Stunning Turn as Fundraiser Tops $30,000 for Woman Accused of Continuing Monkey Gestures — Even After Another Student Apologized
A controversial fundraiser has collected tens of thousands of dollars for a woman linked to the viral Ole Miss video, but the most surprising detail is not how much money supporters have donated. The organizer says the campaign could be canceled if she publicly apologizes.
A racial controversy involving students at the University of Mississippi has taken an unexpected turn after an online fundraising campaign began attracting substantial financial support for a woman accused of making offensive gestures outside an apartment occupied by three Black students.
The GiveSendGo fundraiser, titled “Stand With Lauren,” was established by Tom Hennessey, who describes himself as an independent journalist.
According to the New York Post, the campaign had collected approximately $20,000 toward a $50,000 target by Wednesday afternoon, November 11, 2026.
The Associated Press later reported that donations had exceeded $30,000.
The campaign has attracted particular scrutiny because its organizer argues that the woman did nothing wrong and has explicitly discouraged her from apologizing.
Meanwhile, the three Black students who experienced the incident have revealed that the behavior allegedly continued even after another participant attempted to apologize.
A Viral Recording That Sparked National Outrage
The controversy began on November 6, when a Ring doorbell camera recorded three white women walking outside an apartment near the University of Mississippi, commonly known as Ole Miss.
The apartment was occupied by three Black freshmen: Jakiyra Metcalf, Victoria Johnson, and Kaiyden Caldwell.
In the recording, two women appeared to make monkey-like noises and gestures, including exaggerated arm movements and chest-beating.
A third woman walked behind them without appearing to participate in the same behavior.
After Metcalf shared the footage on TikTok, it spread rapidly across social media.
Within four days, the recording had reportedly attracted more than 13 million views.
Many viewers condemned the behavior because monkey comparisons have historically been used to demean Black people.
The video prompted widespread criticism, demands for accountability, and an investigation by university officials.
But the most significant new details emerged when the apartment’s residents described what happened after the recording ended.
Three Roommates Reveal What the Camera Didn’t Show
During an interview with CBS Mornings on November 11, Metcalf and her roommates explained that they immediately confronted the women after seeing the recording.
They wanted to understand why someone would behave that way outside their apartment.
According to Johnson, one woman, later identified as Alaina Kunes, apologized and explained that the group had made similar noises at several apartment doors.
However, the roommates questioned that account because they had not seen evidence of the same behavior occurring elsewhere.
Then something happened that made the
