ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Ellie Kemper has apologized after an uproar on social media of people calling the St. Louis-raised actress a "KKK princess" for her involvement with a high-society ball in 1999. She broke her week-long silence on the controversy with a long Instagram post on Monday.
"When I was 19 years old, I decided to participate in a debutante ball in my hometown," Kemper stated on Instagram. "The century-old organization that hosted the debutante ball had an unquestionably racist, sexist and elitist past. I was not aware of the history at the time, but ignorance is no excuse. I was old enough to have educated myself before getting involved. I unequivocally deplore, denounce, and reject white supremacy. At the same time, I acknowledge that because of my race and my privilege, I am the beneficiary of a system that has dispensed unequal justice and unequal rewards.
"I believe strongly in the values of kindness, integrity and inclusiveness," her message continued in part. "I try to live my life in accordance with these values. If my experience is an indication that organizations and institutions with pasts that fall short of these beliefs should be held to account, then I have to see this experience in a positive light.
"I want to apologize to the people I've disappointed, and I promise that moving forward I will listen, continue to educate myself, and use my privilege in support of the better society I think we're capable of becoming."
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.
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.
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