A West Virginia nonprofit group has fired its director after she wrote a Facebook post referring to first lady Michelle Obama as an “ape in heels.”

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s office said Tuesday that Pamela Ramsey Taylor, executive director of the Clay County Development Corp., was removed following an agreement with the nonprofit’s board of directors.

Taylor’s racist social media comments were not directly mentioned as the reason.

However, Tomblin spokeswoman Jessica Tice says the state requested “specific assurances” the nonprofit is following anti-discrimination policies and has been assured Taylor is gone as director.

She says another agency will manage it for six months while the nonprofit makes any changes needed for compliance as a state contractor.

The nonprofit provides services to elderly and low-income residents in Clay County.

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