What is the Veiled Prophet Ball as Ellie Kemper comes under fire?

Ellie Kemper has come under fire for her links to the ‘racist and elitist’ Veiled Prophet Ball in St Louis.

In 1999, the actress, who’s starred in the US remake of The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, was crowned the ‘Queen of Love and Beauty’ at the St Louis ball.

Since, St Louis native Kemper has been slammed for her ties with the ‘racist’ ball, with many confused about what it actually is.

What is the Veiled Prophet Ball?

The Veiled Prophet Ball is an annual debutante ball in St Louis, Missouri.

It’s hosted by an organisation which was once called the Mystic Order of the Veiled Prophet of the Enchanted Realm, before being rebranded to the Veiled Prophet Organization.

The first ball was in 1878, with young women being crowned as the Queen of Love and Beauty and being attended by paiges.

An event description reads: ‘Each year, approximately 60 to 70 young women are chosen for their outstanding community service efforts and walk down the magnificent 72-foot-long Veiled Prophet runway in fashionable couture gowns, and in front of family and friends, are presented and honored for their contributions.’

However, the organisation and ball have a racist and elitist history. The organisation was created by grain broker Charles Slayback and his Confederate Army officer brother Alonzo.

It also didn’t admit Black members until 1979, 100 years after it began.

Meanwhile, the organisation faced protests from civil rights groups including ACTION in the 1970s.

Founding member Percy Green said he wanted the heads of the St Louis corporations to hire more minority workers, specifically Black males, and to abolish the organisation that flaunted its wealth in front of the city’s poorest residents. 

When was Ellie Kemper crowned?

Ellie Kemper was crowned as the Queen of Love and Beauty at the 1999 ball, when she was 19.

She has, in recent days, come under fire for her ties to the event, but has not commented.

The Veiled Prophet Organization has said to USA TODAY that is is ‘dedicated to civic progress, economic contributions and charitable causes in St. Louis.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Ellie Kemper for comment.

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MORE : The Office’s Ellie Kemper facing backlash as fans learn she was crowned queen of controversial ball