Mozilla's CEO Resigns in Wake of Criticism Over Stance on Gay Marriage Eich insisted just yesterday that he wouldn't resign, but Mozilla says he is stepping down.

By Laura Entis

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Brendan Eich has stepped down as Mozilla's CEO amid criticism over his donation to an anti-gay California marriage ballot measure back in 2008.

Eich was appointed chief executive of the company just last week, a decision that caused an immediate and intense backlash, most notably from the dating site OKCupid. Visitors to the OKCupid website earlier this week were greeted with the message "Mozilla's new CEO, Brendan Eich, is an opponent of equal rights for gay couples…We would therefore prefer that our users not use Mozilla software to access OKCupid."

Despite the intensifying criticism over his donation, just yesterday Eich told The Guardian that he would not be resign over his 'private' support for a gay marriage ban.

But Mozilla has officially announced his departure this afternoon in a blog post.

Related: 37 South Korean Bank Execs Offer to Resign Over Breach. Should Target Execs Follow Suit?

"Mozilla prides itself on being held to a different standard and, this past week, we didn't live up to it," Mitchell Baker, Mozilla's executive chairwoman, wrote. "We know why people are hurt and angry, and they are right: it's because we haven't stayed true to ourselves."

Baker went on to write that Eich had "chosen to step down from his role as CEO." While figuring out how to simultaneously stand for both equality and freedom of speech is hard, she continued, "Our organizational culture reflects diversity and inclusiveness. We welcome contributions from everyone regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender-identity, language, race, sexual orientation, geographical location and religious views. Mozilla supports equality for all."

The company said that what comes next for the organization's leadership "is still being discussed."

Related: The Moz CEO's Wonderfully Refreshing Reason for Stepping Down

Laura Entis is a reporter for Fortune.com's Venture section.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Culture

It's Time to Rewrite Your Company's Values — Here's How

Most companies' values are forgotten or disconnected from daily operations. By rethinking and co-creating values with your team, you can transform them into actionable tools that align behavior, build trust and drive performance.

Business News

Zillow Predicts These 10 Places Will Have the Hottest Housing Markets in 2025

Zillow predicted that the hottest housing market of 2025 will be Buffalo, New York. Here's why.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

These Are the 10 Highest-Paying Jobs That Only Require a 2-Year Degree — With Some Around $100,000 and Higher

People with two-year degrees may see career growth in the healthcare, aviation, and technology industries over the next 10 years, according to a new report.