Reddit CEO Ellen Pao Says Sorry After 200,000 Sign Petition Calling For Her Sacking

The head of online community Reddit has apologised to the site’s users after almost 200,000 people signed a petition calling for her to be sacked.

In a statement on Reddit, the site’s interim chief executive, Ellen Pao, told users: “We screwed up.”

Her apology comes as 198,000 people have signed a petition calling for her to leave her post. The petition looks like it will reach its goal of 200,000 signatures.

Users are angry at the firing last week of Reddit communications director Victoria Taylor, who ran the site’s popular Ask Me Anything (AMA) series, which allows redditors to submit questions directly to people in the public eye, including US president Barack Obama.

Billed as “the front page of the internet”, Reddit acts as an online bulletin board for its users to discuss news, politics, sport and entertainment.

It is unclear exactly why Taylor was dismissed, but her sacking has riled the Reddit community, who have accused Pao of censorship. More than 100 Reddit forums were shut down in protest by users.

In her message, Pao said: “We haven’t communicated well, and we have surprised moderators and the community with big changes.

“We have apologised and made promises to you, the moderators and the community, over many years, but time and again, we haven’t delivered on them. When you’ve had feedback or requests, we haven’t always been responsive. The mods and the community have lost trust in me and in us, the administrators of Reddit.

“Today, we acknowledge this long history of mistakes. We are grateful for all you do for Reddit, and the buck stops with me.”

Reddit has not revealed why Taylor was dismissed, but there is speculation she was unhappy with the planned direction of the site.

(Picture: Getty Images)