The Michigan Republican Party is standing behind a party official who shared an offensive post about Muslims on several social media platforms.
Wayne Bradley, the GOP's state director of African-American Engagement, said he apologizes if he offended anybody.
"I thought it was light hearted and funny," Bradley said, "And once I realized that some people took it the wrong way, I took it down."
"It wasn't until the Michigan Democratic Party made it an issue that I was aware it had offended anyone," said Bradley.
The posting spoofs a jewelry store ad. It shows a time bomb in a small jewelry case, and a veiled Muslim woman exclaiming, "He went to Jihad's?"
Bradley says he shared the post on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Sarah Anderson, communications director for the Michigan Republican Party, says it was an insensitive joke, but the party is not planning disciplinary action against Bradley.
Anderson said Bradley was not speaking on behalf of the Republican Party.
"It was his personal social media account," Anderson said. "We've asked him to exercise some caution and some sensitivity in what he shares."
"He didn't create the posting. He just shared it," said Anderson. "He would not have purposely posted anything that he thought would offend people, and as soon as he realized it did, he took it down."
"It's much ado about nothing, frankly," Anderson said.
