The University of Virginia (UVA) scrambled to defuse a brewing race row after the as yet unidentified woman was filmed on social media berating her white peers for occupying the zone and making her feel uneasy.

After grabbing everyone’s attention, she said: ‘If you all didn’t know, this is an MSC (multicultural student center) and frankly there are just too many white people in here.

‘This is a space for people of color, so just be really cognizant of the space you’re taking up because it does make some of us POCs feel uncomfortable when we see too many white people in here.’

Her inflammatory comments sparked a furious online row which forced the university to confirm the space is for everyone.