'An ape in heels': WV officials slur Michelle Obama -- and say Melania Trump will be 'refreshing'

Two officials in West Virginia have come under fire for sharing racist messages about First Lady Michelle Obama.

According to WSAZ, a message about the current first lady was shared thousands of times after it was posted on Facebook by Clay County Development Corporation Director Pamela Taylor.

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

Clay Mayor Beverly Whaling reportedly praised Taylor's post, writing, "Just made my day Pam."

An online petition signed by 1,000 people called for both Taylor and Whaling to be fired.

Clay Town Councilman Jason Hubbard told Charleston Gazette-Mail that the controversy would be addressed at a council meeting on Tuesday.

For Taylor's part, she insisted to WSAZ that she had already been reprimanded by the Clay County Development Corporation, which is funded by taxpayer money.

Taylor argued that the incident had been turned into a "hate crime against me."

Watch the video report below from WSAZ, broadcast Nov. 14, 2016.