Nina Fekaris

The apple doesnt fall far from the tree... Meet Alaina Kunes, the University of Mississippi student at the center of intense public backlash after a viral Ring doorbell video captured her and a fellow classmate making racist gestures and monkey sounds outside a Black student's apartment. The video has triggered a formal university investigation and ignited a massive corporate firestorm for Kunes Auto Group, a prominent Midwest dealership network with over 40 locations. Public records, archived social media posts, and internal whistleblowers make a strong case that Alaina Kunes is the daughter of the company's Chief Operating Officer and MAGAt Scott Kunes, and the granddaughter of its founder, Gregg Kunes. In an attempt to mitigate the fallout, Kunes Auto Group issued a statement asserting that she has no employment, ownership, or professional affiliation with the company. However, corporate representatives notably refused to deny her direct family ties to top executive leadership when pressed by local news outlets. This high-profile family scandal has significantly amplified scrutiny over Kunes Auto Group's corporate culture, which is already embroiled in active federal litigation. The dealership network is currently facing a federal discrimination lawsuit filed in August 2026 after a Black customer found a racial slur printed on her oil change reminder sticker at a Wisconsin location. Another incident in March 2026 involved a salesman sending a racist text message and an ape meme to a repeat customer. Civil rights attorneys representing the victims of these past incidents argue that Alaina Kunes' behavior reflects a top-down, systemic culture of racism permeating the founding family and executive suite. As the university's investigation into the viral footage continues, the direct connection to the ownership family has re-energized public calls for boycotts across the automotive group's Midwest footprint.