W.Va. mayor resigns over Michelle Obama Facebook post
A West Virginia mayor resigned Tuesday after expressing support for a Facebook post referring to first lady Michelle Obama as an “ape in heels.”
The town council in Clay, W.Va., accepted Mayor Beverly Whaling’s resignation in a meeting Tuesday afternoon, according to The Associated Press.
The Facebook post, originally written by Clay County Development Corp. director Pamela Taylor, stated, “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.”
Soon after the status was published, Whaling expressed support for the comparison, commenting, “Just made my day Pam.”
According to WSAZ, both Whaling and Taylor have come under heavy criticism since making the post, with nearly 1,500 people demanding their resignation via a petition.
Whaling apologized in a statement Monday 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!” she said.
“Again, I would like to apologize for this getting out of hand!”
WSAZ reported that Taylor had also issued an apology.
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