Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich Resigns After Backlash Over Support For Prop 8 Same-Sex Marriage Ban
MOUNTAIN VIEW (CBS SF) -- Mozilla Chief Executive Officer Brendan Eich has resigned his post after revelations of his prior support for California's doomed same-sex marriage ban created a backlash among Mozilla employees.
Eich's resignation also comes days after online dating site OkCupid.com began asking its customers not to use Mozilla's Firefox browser to access the site.
Eich, who was named CEO of the Mountain View-based Mozilla last month, had come under fire for his 2008 donation of $1,000 to support Proposition 8 which has since been struck down.
After his ascension from chief technology officer to CEO, Mozilla employees criticized the move and publicly called on Eich to step down. Three Mozilla board members also resigned but the company denied the resignations had anything to do with Eich's appointment.
In a blog post Thursday, Mozilla Executive Chairwoman Mitchell Baker said the company was caught off guard by the extent of the backlash and announced Eich's resignation:
Mozilla prides itself on being held to a different standard and, this past week, we didn't live up to it. We know why people are hurt and angry, and they are right: it's because we haven't stayed true to ourselves.
We didn't act like you'd expect Mozilla to act. We didn't move fast enough to engage with people once the controversy started. We're sorry. We must do better.
Baker's post said the company supports equality for all and recognized employees have a wide diversity of views, and that the company "failed to listen, to engage, and to be guided by our community."
Previously, Eich had published a blog post addressing his previous stance, while promising to work with LGBT communities and expressing "my sorrow at having caused pain."