Rusty DePass, a prominent South Carolina GOP activist, is in trouble after describing an escaped gorilla at a South Carolina zoo as an “ancestor” of First Lady Michelle Obama.
The bout of "foot-in-mouth" disease started when Trey Walker, an advisor to S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster, posted a Facebook update about the escape of a Western Lowlands Gorilla from Columbia’s Riverbanks Zoo, which occured on Friday.
DePass then replied:
“I’m sure it’s just one of Michelle’s ancestors — probably harmless."
DePass, after facing criticism even from his own party, told WIS-TV:
"I am as sorry as I can be if I offended anyone. The comment was clearly in jest."
Comparing an African-American to an ape has long been known to be racist. Of course, over and over again, the excuse made for such comments has been either that it was a joke or that the person involved didn't know it was a racist comment.
Unfortunately, since these comments, when they occur, have been highly publicized, it becomes harder and harder to believe the excuse that the commenter simply didn't know.
Columbia, SC Mayor Bob Coble said the following:
"You know, I don't think there's anything funny about that comment. That is the First Lady of the United States. We've had a long tradition of wonderful first ladies, and I don't think any of them deserve that type of comment."
The comment has since been removed from Facebook and DePass' Facebook account has also been deleted.
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