A California woman who gained overnight infamy after posting a Facebook status update expressing a desire to see President Obama — whom she referred to as "the nigger" — assassinated during his second term in office remained defiant despite losing her job at Cold Stone Creamery and being brought to the attention of the Secret Service.

In an interview with Fox 40, 22-year-old Denise Helms of Turlock conceded that "the assassination part [of her post] is kind of harsh," but refused to walk back the sentiment.

"I'm not saying like I would go do that or anything like that, by any means" she told the Sacramento-based news station. "But if it was to happen, I don't think I'd care one bit."

Helms went on to deny that using the n-word necessarily meant she was a racist.

"Apparently a lot of people in Sacramento think I'm crazy and racist," Helms wrote in a follow-up post on her Facebook page. "WOW is all I got to say!! I'm not racist and I'm not crazy. just simply stating my opinion.!!!"

But when asked by Fox 40 if she "equated the president with the n-word," Helms responded "sure."

One person for whom Helms' racism is unambiguous is Turlock Cold Stone Creamery store director Chris Kegle, who fired Helms from her job at the store. "We found her comments to be very disgusting, and they do not reflect our opinions here," he told the Modesto Bee.

The Secret Service was also alerted to Helms' post, and an agent from the Sacramento office told the Bee her comments would be reviewed.

[screengrab via Fox 40]