Ole Miss Student Fundraiser Raises Thousands After Racist Ring Video

An online fundraiser set up for Lauren Mayfield, a University of Mississippi student identified in viral doorbell camera footage making monkey gestures outside an apartment where Black students lived, has collected tens of thousands of dollars. The Daily Mail reported that the fundraiser had accumulated over $42,000, while the New York Post reported it had reached $20,000 of its $50,000 goal by Wednesday afternoon. TMZ also reported that a fundraiser was established urging the student not to apologize. [1][2][8]

The incident involved multiple women outside the apartment of Black students. The Daily Mail reported that another student involved, identified as Alaina Kunes, issued an apology and withdrew from the university. According to the New York Post, the Black students immediately confronted the group, but one woman continued making gestures even while another was apologizing. [1][4][5]

NBC News reported that the affected students felt devastated and hurt by the harassment. Separately, the New York Post reported that a family business connected to one of the students involved was hit with a lawsuit over racism claims after a racial slur was printed on a service sticker following an oil change. [3][6][7]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, the University of Mississippi opened an investigation after resident Jakiyra Metcalf shared the video footage online. The video captured one woman beating her chest and making monkey noises outside the apartment shared by three Black students on a Friday. [11]