The family of the Ole Miss student caught making racist monkey noises and gestures on camera outside of an apartment shared by three black students is embroiled in their own legal battle stemming from racism allegations.
Alaina Kunes, 18, one of three University of Mississippi students identified in the viral video shared over the weekend, publicly apologized for the incident Tuesday — but the backlash has cast a spotlight on her family’s Wisconsin-based automotive empire.
Her father, Scott Kunes, is the former COO of Wisconsin-based Kunes Auto Group, which is currently fighting a lawsuit over alleged workplace racism involving one of its employees, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.
The student’s grandfather also holds an executive position within the company, the outlet reported.
Kunes Auto Group — which owns some 50 dealerships across four Midwestern states — was 𝘴ℓappєḋ with a lawsuit in August 2026 after Wisconsin woman Makayla Starks claimed she was subject to racism at one of its dealerships.
Starks purchased her car from the Kunes Buick GMC of Oak Creek in early 2025 and went back months later for a complimentary oil change, TMZ reported, citing the court docs.
After the oil change, the N-word was reportedly printed on a service sticker that was placed on her windshield.
Starks, who identifies as biracial, said she cried in her car for 20 minutes after seeing the sickening sticker, Wisconsin Law Journal reported.
At the time, the company said in a social media statement, “We are 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 the outlet.
“We want to be unequivocal: this behavior and the hateful sentiment it implies are absolutely against our values as a company. There is no place for racism or discrimination within our dealership or community.”
In the suit — which names the dealership and a man identified as John Doe as defendants — Starks claims she suffered emotional distress, humiliation and anxiety.
Earlier this year, another Kunes customer reportedly complained that a salesman sent her a racist text message featuring a photo of a dancing ape wearing a bathing suit.
In both of those incidents, “Kunes Auto Group immediately terminated the employees involved and publicly stated that the conduct was unacceptable and against its values,” according to a spokesperson for the company.
Scott Kunes left the auto company in February, the spokesperson confirmed to The Post.
The Ole Miss student also “has no employment, ownership, or professional affiliation” with the company, they added.
Ole Miss officials announced on Monday that they were launching an investigation into the sickening ring-doorbell-camera footage time-stamped Nov. 6, 2026, at approximately 8:37 p.m., which shows two women beating their chests and making monkey noises toward the camera, before bursting into laughter as they walk away.
A third woman with them is then seen glancing at the door as she silently walks past.
Kunes is the only one out of the trio who has publicly confirmed her involvement in the disgusting scene, telling CBS 58 News: “I would have never intentionally made those noises or gestures toward a person of color.”
She noted that she’s also personally apologized to the insulted women.
