[ad_1]
Posted: June 8, 2021 / 3:05 PM EDT / Updated: June 8, 2021 / 3:05 PM EDT
FILE – Ellie Kemper attends the FYC “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” event on May 29, 2019 in Los Angeles. Kemper apologized for attending a debutante ball hosted by an organization in St. Louis that she said had an unmistakably racist, sexist and elitist past. (Photo by Richard Shotwell / Invision / AP, on file)
ST. LOUIS (AP) Actress Ellie Kemper has apologized for attending a debutante ball hosted by an organization in St. Louis that she said had an unmistakably racist, sexist and elitist past.
The 41-year-old star from St. Louis and star of the Unbreakable TV series Kimmy Schmidt was criticized on Twitter after it was revealed that at 19 she had been named Queen of Love and Beauty at the Veiled Prophet’s Ball in St. Louis.
The Veiled Prophet’s organization dates from the late 1800s. He did not allow black members until 1979. The daughters of many prominent St. Louis families held the same title as Kemper, whose family has founded Commerce Bancshares.
Kemper, who rose to fame on The Office television, said on Instagram that she was unaware at the time of the story of the Veiled Prophet, but ignorance is no excuse.
The Veiled Prophet Organization has issued its own statement saying it recognizes our past and acknowledges the criticisms leveled at us. The statement said the organization now rejects racism in any form.
[ad_2]
picture credit