Alaina Kunes, an 18-year-old Wisconsin native, apologized Tuesday, Nov. 10, for her involvement in a viral video showing racist gestures outside the apartment of Black University of Mississippi students, saying she and her family have received death threats since the footage spread online.

The incident has drawn attention throughout Wisconsin because of her family’s ties to Kunes Auto Group. A family representative confirmed to CBS 58 that she is the granddaughter of owner Gregg Kunes and daughter of former chief operating officer Scott Kunes. The dealership group was founded in Delavan in 1997, according to Spectrum News 1.

Kunes, of Elkhorn, is the first of three white women seen passing the apartment’s doorbell camera. Two of the women appear to imitate monkeys with their gestures and noises. The apartment is shared by three Black students. The mother of one of those students posted the video on social media and contacted university authorities.

In a statement released by her attorneys at Gardiner Koch Weisberg & Wrona, Kunes acknowledged that her conduct was “insensitive, inappropriate, and deeply harmful.” She said she had not previously met the residents and did not know their race before the Nov. 6 incident.

“To the women I offended and to the Ole Miss community, I sincerely apologize. Before the incident on November 6, I never met the women involved and was unaware of their race, however, I recognize my actions were insensitive, inappropriate, and deeply harmful. I would have never intentionally made those noises or gestures toward a person of color. I have apologized to the women and I pray they will forgive me. I can never truly understand the pain I have caused them and it was never my intention. These girls deserve to feel seen and understood and what I did is not a reflection of who I am trying to become."

TMJ4 reported that a spokesperson for Kunes confirmed she had withdrawn from Ole Miss. CBS 58, citing a source close to the family, reported that she withdrew because of safety and harassment concerns.

“Over the past several days, my family and I have received death threats and harassment,” she also said in the statement.

She thanked authorities for helping protect her family and requested privacy. Her statement did not identify a law enforcement agency, describe specific threats or provide details of any related investigation.

Kunes Auto Group said in a statement that she has no employment, ownership or professional affiliation with the business. Her attorneys said she has never worked there and that her father left his executive position in February.

The university condemned the conduct in a Nov. 8 campus message. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead said university staff had contacted the students affected to offer support and resources.

Mead said the university’s student conduct and equal opportunity offices were investigating. She also warned against spreading unverified identities online, saying one student had been wrongly identified and no members of the university’s sorority community were involved.

Kunes said she would cooperate with the university’s investigation.

No charges have been filed.