Mayor resigns following response to Facebook post that branded Michelle Obama an “ape in heels”

The mayor of a West Virginia town has resigned from her post after fallout from a racist Facebook post which described First Lady Michelle Obama as an 'ape in heels'.

Beverly Whaling resigned as the mayor of Clay on Tuesday after replying to a Facebook post from Pamela Ramesy Taylor, the county's former development corp director, following Donald Trump's victory in the US election last week.

Taylor, who has also been removed from her post on Monday, wrote:

'It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I'm tired of seeing an Ape in heels.'

Whaling responded by writing: 'Just made my day Pam', prompting criticism and calls for her to resign.

https://twitter.com/heismanheist97/status/798467587206090752

Initially, Whaling apologised for her behaviour and attempted to convince the public that she isn't racist.

"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 in any way racist!"

Having accepted her resignation, Council member Jason Hubbard described her post as 'horrific', adding that "racial tolerance isn't what this community is about."

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