Outrage over Michelle Obama 'Ape in heels' Facebook post
A racist Facebook post about Michelle Obama has sparked outrage in America involving a town mayor in the US state of West Virginia.
Reflecting on the election of Donald Trump, Pamela Ramsey Taylor wrote: “It will be so refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady back in the White House. I'm tired of seeing a Ape in heels."
Ms Taylor was removed from her position as the Director of the government-funded Clay Development Corporation on Monday, according to New York Daily News.
The Facebook post has since been deleted but not before screenshots of her remarks were shared thousands of times on social media.
One Facebook user described her as "sick in the head", while another wrote: "shame on you".
"Disgraceful racist comment", added another.
The town mayor, Beverly Whaling, has also resigned after commenting under the original post: "Just made my day Pam".
Clay town council accepted mayor Beverly Whaling's resignation and said it would act quickly to name a replacement for the remaining three years of her term.
An online petition calling for both women to lose their jobs has attracted more than 120,000 signatures.
Ms Taylor told local news outlet WSAZ, that she acknowledged her post could be "interpreted as racist, but in no way was intended to be", and that she was expressing a personal opinion on attractiveness, not the colour of a person's skin.
She added that she was considering taking legal action for slander against unnamed individuals.
But the apology was not accepted by some.
One person commented on Ms Taylor's Facebook page: "It's no good you pretending to the public that it wasn't meant as a racist remark.
"You should be ashamed. Michelle Obama is a warm, kind, intelligent, compassionate lady."
In a statement given to the Washington Post, Mayor Whaling said: "My comment was not intended to be racist at all" and apologised for the comment "getting out of hand."
"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!" she said.