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Michelle Obama Called "Ape in Heels" by Officials

From Cosmopolitan

In an unguarded expression of racism, a West Virginia official called first lady Michelle Obama an "ape in heels" in a Facebook post after the election.

"It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I'm tired of seeing a Ape in heels," wrote Pamela Ramsey Taylor, who serves as the director of the Clay County Development Corporation. Taylor is white.

Photo credit: WSAZ
Photo credit: WSAZ

The mayor of Clay, Beverly Whaling, commented on Taylor's post, saying, "Just made my day Pam."

The post and Taylor's Facebook page have been deleted, along with an apology Taylor posted after she faced intense criticism on social media. Taylor has since been "removed from her position," according to local news station WSAZ. The town council will discuss the comments at a meeting Tuesday.

Whaling provided a statement to the Washington Post: "My comment was not intended to be racist at all. I was referring to my day being made for change in the White House! I am truly sorry for any hard feeling this may have caused! Those who know me know that I’m not of any way racist! Again, I would like to apologize for this getting out of hand!"

Taylor told WSAZ that she and her family had received threats and that she believed the response was a "hate crime against me."

A petition calling for the removal of Taylor and Whaling from their positions has received over 100,000 signatures since Sunday.

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