Ellen Pao stepped down from her post as interim Reddit CEO on Friday, a week after the firing of a popular employee caused turmoil among community moderators, who shut down hundreds of the site's subsections in protest.
Pao posted her resignation to Reddit (where else?) and asked the notoriously outspoken community to refrain from personal attacks against her and others:
In my eight months as Reddit's CEO, I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly on Reddit. The good has been off-the-wall inspiring, and the ugly made me doubt humanity.
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. [Reddit]
Pao told Re/code the decision with the site's board was mutual. Co-founder and original CEO Steve Huffman is taking over her role.