ST. LOUIS (97.1 FM TALK) - There's been an uproar on social media since the holiday week with some calling St. Louis-raised actress Ellie Kemper a "KKK princess" for her involvement with a high-society ball in 1999.
The star of "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" who first became a well-known actress for her role in "The Office," was crowned the "Queen of Love and Beauty" at the 1999 Veiled Prophet Ball. The group has a controversial history, with ties to racial conflicts in St. Louis. A photo of Kemper wearing the crown when she was a 19-year-old freshman at Princeton Unversity has gone viral.
But some have also come to her defense:
There are no known connections between the KKK and Veiled Prophet Ball, but civil rights organizations note the group didn't admit Black members until 1979. It started in the late 1800s by a group of rich business owners in St. Louis. The annual debutante event is still practiced, in which a "Veiled Prophet" wears a white robe and veil covering their face selects a member's daughter as the queen.
Some say the practice relates to white hoods worn by the KKK.
In a statement to USA TODAY, the Veiled Prophet Organization described itself as "dedicated to civic progress, economic contributions and charitable causes in St. Louis."
"Our organization believes in and promotes inclusion, diversity and equality for this region," the statement read. "We absolutely reject racism and have never partnered or associated with any organization that harbors these beliefs."
Kemper, 41, is a graduate of John Burroughs School in St. Louis and the daughter of a high-profile bank executive, David Kemper. She hasn't made a public comment about the accusations.