"I am not in any way racist" says West Virginia official who called Michelle Obama an 'Ape in heels'

West Virginia official Pamela Ramsey Taylor, who called First Lady Michelle Obama an 'ape in heel' has been placed on leave after the racist remark prompted intense backlash and calls for her termination. According to Associated Press, the director of Clay County Development Corp., came under fire after she wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post:

"It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I’m tired of seeing a (sic) Ape in heels,"

The mayor of Clay, Beverly Whaling chimed in a comment: "Just made my day Pam."

The comments came after Republican Donald Trump was elected president and soon spread like wildfire on the internet.  More than 103,000 people have signed an online petition calling for both Taylor and Whaling to be fired.

The petition says the post was "hateful and racially motivated. Every grant and piece of paper Mrs. Taylor and Ms. Whaling have to fill out and sign promises equal opportunities and a racism free workplace,"

Taylor, who runs a nonprofit that provides services to elderly and low-income residents in the county, confirmed to WCHS on Monday night that she was put on leave. She apologized on Facebook but subsequently deleted her page. In a statement to WCHS, she insists that she is not a racist.

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