Ellen Pao’s had a rough week. After more than 230,000 people signed a petition demanding her firing over issues redditors felt were major offenses (such as the firing of Victoria Taylor and the closing of several controversial subreddits), the embattled interim CEO has chosen to step down in what she calls a “mutual agreement” with the site.
According to The New York Times, Pao, who’s worked at Reddit for two years has no immediate future plans. When asked what she’ll be doing next, Pao replied that she’s hoping to get a lot of sleep. She’ll remain as an advisor on Reddit’s board until the end of this year and is gearing up to appeal a recent sexual harassment court case which she both brought to trial and lost.
Pao posted the news of her resignation on Reddit several hours ago, saying that she’s seen all sides of Reddit and reminding users to treat each other as human beings:
I just want to remind everyone that I am just another human; I have a family, and I have feelings. Everyone attacked on reddit is just another person like you and me. When people make something up to attack me or someone else, it spreads, and we eventually will see it. And we will feel bad, not just about what was said. Also because it undercuts the authenticity of reddit and shakes our faith in humanity.
The New York Times reports that not everyone took Pao’s advice, with some users referring to her as “the great evil” and celebrating her departure. Pao will be replaced by Steve Huffman, one of Reddit’s founders.
(Via The New York Times)