Ellie Kemper is an actress well-known for The Office and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, but recently she’s been in the public eye for a not-so-positive reason. Photos have surfaced of Kemper participating in a beauty pageant that was hosted by an organization that excluded Jewish people and African Americans. Not only did she participate, but she was crowned “Veiled Prophet Queen of Love and Beauty” in the 1999 event.
The Veiled Prophet Organization was founded in 1978 by a former Confederate officer and other wealthy white elites. The organization has a history of allegations of racism against them. In the 1970s their balls were protested because of these allegations. In fact, the organization had no black men until 1979.
At 19 Ellie Kemper was crowned the 105th woman to be crowned the Queen of Love and Beauty. She comes from a very influential and wealthy family from St. Louis and was even attending Princeton at the time of her crowning.
In order to change the face of their organization, the Veiled Prophets changed the name of their parade to the Fair Saint Louis in the 90’s. In a statement to BuzzFeed News, the Veiled Prophet Organization said it was “dedicated to civil progress, economic contributions and charitable causes in St. Louis.”
“Our organization believes in and promotes inclusion, diversity and equality for this region,” the group said. “We absolutely reject racism and have never partnered or associated with any organization that harbors these beliefs.”
Despite the rejection of any claims to racism, the group’s rocky past has indicated that the allegations may be true. Percy Green II, a civil rights activist, protested the ball in the 1960s and 70s for being “racist, sexist, and elitist.” Green was apart of the now disbanded group called ACTION (Action Council to Improve Opportunities for Negroes).
“If the city was going to truly integrate, they should not have a Ku Klux Klan–ish event. That’s why we attacked it,” Green said in another interview.
Over the years, other ACTION activists disrupted the ball, according to Post-Dispatch photo archives. In 1975, one activist unfurled a banner on stage that read “ACTION Protests Racist V.P.” Other members sprayed irritants at attendees.
The Veiled Prophet Organization undoubtedly has a sketchy past, and people on Twitter are referring to Ellie Kemper as a ‘KKK Princess.’ Kemper has yet to respond to any of the backlashes regarding her past.
What do you think about her participation in such an event? Leave your comments below!
