A fundraiser has been launched for Lauren Mayfield, a University of Mississippi student identified in a viral Ring camera video showing women making monkey-like noises and gestures outside an apartment occupied by three Black students in Oxford, Mississippi. The campaign has attracted thousands of dollars in donations, while its organizer has made one condition clear: he does not want Mayfield to apologize.
The GiveSendGo campaign, titled “Stand with Lauren,” was created by Tom Hennessey. According to its description, the money is intended to help Mayfield deal with possible lost income and missed opportunities resulting from the public backlash surrounding the video.
Hennessey argues that Mayfield should not be forced to apologize over the incident. He maintains that she did not assault anyone or break the law, describing the behavior as something that happened in a public walkway. He also criticizes the university’s response and the public reaction, which he believes have gone too far.
The fundraiser’s description takes an unusually firm position on the matter. Hennessey says he wants Mayfield to stand her ground rather than issue what he considers a forced apology. He also warns that he reserves the right to cancel the campaign if she publicly apologizes or distances herself from his support.
The amount raised has also drawn attention. TMZ reported that the campaign had collected more than $15,000 toward a $20,000 goal. However, the fundraising figures displayed on GiveSendGo have differed across its campaign and listing pages. The campaign’s live page displayed a different total and goal when reviewed, making it difficult to establish the exact amount raised.
The fundraiser comes after doorbell-camera footage recorded on November 6 began circulating online. The video shows three women walking past an off-campus apartment occupied by three Black University of Mississippi students. Two of the women appear to make monkey-like noises and gestures, while the third does not appear to participate.
The footage quickly spread across social media, drawing criticism over the apparent racial meaning of the behavior. The university responded by condemning the incident and describing it as “deeply troubling, hurtful, and unacceptable.” Officials also said they had contacted the affected students and offered support.
Another woman identified in the video, Alaina Kunes, publicly apologized for her actions. She described the behavior as insensitive, inappropriate and deeply harmful. Kunes also said she had not known the residents’ race before the incident and maintained that she had never intended to direct such behavior toward people of color.
Kunes further said she intended to cooperate with the university’s investigation. The university subsequently confirmed that she was no longer a student. Her representatives said she had voluntarily withdrawn from Ole Miss.
Mayfield, meanwhile, has not publicly addressed the fundraiser in the reports reviewed. It also remains unclear whether she knows about the campaign, supports it or will personally receive any of the donations. Hennessey remains identified as its organizer.
The controversy has now taken on another dimension, with the fundraiser placing Mayfield’s response to the backlash at the center of a separate public debate. While Hennessey wants supporters to help her financially, the university’s investigation into the November 6 incident remains ongoing.
The incident happened outside an off-campus apartment in Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi. The exact apartment address has not been publicly released.
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