A West Virginia official who was fired after a racist Facebook post comparing first lady Michelle Obama to an "ape in heels" will apparently be back at her job later this month, The Hill reports.
Pamela Taylor, the director of Clay County Development Corp., a nonprofit funded by state and federal funds, came under fire back in November after writing on Facebook, “It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I’m tired of seeing a Ape [sic] in heels.”
However, according to the report, the Clay County Development Corp. announced over the weekend that Taylor will be reinstated Dec. 23.
Taylor wasn't the only high-ranking local official to get caught up in the controversy. Clay Mayor Beverly Whaling also suffered backlash by quipping under the post, "Just made my day Pam."
In the immediate aftermath, both women apologized for their remarks by insisting that they were not meant to be racist.
“My comment was not intended to be racist at all,” Whaling said in November via a statement. “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!
Taylor also apologized before then slamming the backlash against her as a "hate crime against me."
Read more at The Hill.