Ellen Pao resigning as CEO of Reddit

In a statement provided to Recode, Reddit board member Sam Altman addressed this streak of obnoxious behavior, calling Pao’s treatment “sickening”.

Co-founder Steve Huffman will take over the site’s leadership, the source said.

Ms Pao apologised last Monday for the company’s handling of Ms Taylor’s firing, saying: “We screwed up”. Pao has been the subject of vitriol from an mad coalition of Reddit users who have relentlessly mocked and denigrated her, often using sexist, viscious language, over disagreements about the company’s recent decisions. “Second I am terrified”, Huffman said in an interview.

Unpaid moderators of some of the link-sharing site’s most-read sections temporarily hid them from public view in protest at Victoria Taylor’s dismissal. For weeks, Reddit users have used extreme insults against Pao, comparing her to tyrants.

Detractors pointed out that the responses made by Pao echoed promises that had been made and broken in the past.

“We are thankful for Ellen’s many contributions to Reddit and the technology industry generally”. She brought a face to reddit that changed perceptions and is a pioneer for women in the tech industry. “I look forward to seeing the great things she does beyond that”.

In his statement to the Reddit community, Altman also pledged better communication and clearer guidelines.

Ars Technica and reddit share a parent company in Advance Publications.