Alaina Kunes: Ole Miss Student’s Family Business Faces Racism Lawsuit Amid Viral Monkey Noise Video

The family of an Ole Miss student filmed making racist monkey noises and gestures outside an apartment shared by three Black students is facing a separate legal dispute involving allegations of racism. Alaina Kunes, 18, was one of three University of Mississippi students featured in a viral video that circulated over the weekend.

She issued a public apology on Tuesday, but the controversy has also drawn attention to her family’s automotive empire empire based in Wisconsin. Her father, Scott Kunes, previously served as COO of Wisconsin-based Kunes Auto Group, which is now facing a lawsuit alleging workplace racism involving one of its employees, according to court records obtained by TMZ.

Family Embroiled in Racism Allegations

The student’s grandfather also holds a senior executive role at the dealership group, according to the outlet. Kunes Auto Group, which operates around 50 dealerships in four Midwestern states, was sued in August 2026 by Wisconsin resident Makayla Starks, who alleged she was subject to racial discrimination at one of its locations.

Starks bought a vehicle from Kunes Buick GMC of Oak Creek in early 2025 and returned several months later for a complimentary oil change, TMZ reported, citing court records.

After the service, she allegedly discovered that a sticker placed on her windshield contained the N-word.

Starks, who identifies as biracial, said the discovery left her so distressed that she sat in her car and cried for 20 minutes, according to the Wisconsin Law Journal.

In a social media statement issued at the time, the company said it was “deeply disturbed and saddened by the incident that has come to light involving one of our employees and a customer, her sense of safety and dignity,” according to TMZ.

The company also insisted that the conduct and the hateful message behind it ran counter to its core values, adding: “There is no place for racism or discrimination within our dealership or community.”

Starks’ lawsuit names the dealership and a man identified as John Doe as defendants. She alleges that the incident caused her emotional distress, humiliation and anxiety.

Family in Troubled Waters

Earlier this year, a separate Kunes customer alleged that a salesman sent her a racist text message containing an image of an ape dancing in a swimsuit. Kunes Auto Group fired the employees involved in both incidents and publicly condemned their actions, saying the behavior violated the company’s values, a company spokesperson told The New York Post.

The spokesperson also confirmed that Scott Kunes left the dealership group in February.

The company spokesperson also clarified that the Ole Miss student “has no employment, ownership, or professional affiliation” with Kunes Auto Group.

On Monday, university officials announced an investigation into Ring doorbell footage recorded on November 6, 2026, at around 8:37 p.m. The video shows two women facing the camera, beating their chests and making monkey noises before laughing as they walk away.

A third woman accompanying them is seen briefly looking toward the apartment door as she passes without saying anything.

Kunes is the only one of the three students to have publicly admitted to her involvement in the incident. Speaking to CBS 58 News, she said: “I would have never intentionally made those noises or gestures toward a person of color.”

She also said she had personally apologized to the women who were targeted.