The director of a West Virginia development group and a mayor are facing backlash after a Facebook post described first lady Michelle Obama as an “ape in heels.”

The original post came from Clay County Development Corporation director Pamela Taylor in response to Donald Trump’s presidential win last week.

“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,” Ms. Taylor wrote.

Clay Mayor Beverly Whaling then responded to the post, writing, “Just made my day Pam.”

Ms. Taylor deleted her post and both women issued apologies on Facebook. Neither of their pages could be found on the social networking site on Monday.

“I would like to apologize for any unintentional harm caused by my comment,” Ms. Whaling said in a statement, a local ABC News affiliate reported. “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!”

A petition demanding that the women be removed from their positions garnered more than 10,000 signatures as of Monday afternoon.

Ms. Taylor said she was reprimanded at her job and was unsure whether she would be able to keep her position, a local NBC News affiliate reported. She said the situation turned into a “hate crime against me” as her family reportedly received an onslaught of death threats.

She said she is considering legal action against individuals who allegedly slandered her.

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