The head of a West Virginia nonprofit whose racist social media post about first lady Michelle Obama drew demands that she be fired is expected to return to work next week.
Pamela Taylor, the director of the nonprofit Clay County Development Corp., was suspended after her Facebook post last month was screenshotted and went viral: "It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House," she wrote. "I'm tired of seeing a Ape in heels."
The controversial message also ensnared Clay County's mayor, Beverly Whaling, when she replied, "Just made my day Pam" — a comment that led her to resign.
But Taylor is set to return on Dec. 23, according to a letter from the agency's acting director sent to the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services and obtained by the Charleston Gazette-Mail.
The Clay County Development Corp. is the county's second-largest employer and provides services to seniors and low-income residents. While it receives funding from state and federal agencies, that money could be in jeopardy if the state determines there is any type of discrimination at the facility.
Neither the agency nor Taylor could immediately be reached for comment Tuesday, and Taylor has not publicly commented about the post.
NBC affiliate WSAZ said workers were unaware that Taylor would be returning.
In a previous statement to NBC News, West Virginia NAACP President Owens Brown condemned the post and said he was worried about a growing rise in hate speech following the election of Donald Trump as president.
"This type of attitude cannot be tolerated in this racially charged atmosphere," Brown said.
