Why isn't anyone calling out Yelp's CEO

Even though I previously criticized[1] talia jane's original missive (not for being ideologically incorrect, or otherwise "out of bounds"; but for being depressingly defeatist and self-negating) -- this was definitely a moment that called for restraint and magnanimity on the CEO's part. But as it went down, his instinctive response (to smash the lowly, disenchanted employee) was incredibly petty-minded and vindictive. And for Yelp's own interests, also depressingly counter-productive and self-defeating.

And on top of that, the assertion that he was somehow out of the loop as to her firing (or that it "wasn't his call") simply lacks credibility. Even if, technically speaking, the decision was left to someone in middle management -- it's the CEO who sets the culture and tone for the environment in which these decisions are made. And when faced with embarrassing public missteps of this sort, strong, principled CEOs always step forward and take responsibility for decisions executed by subordinates acting on their behalf -- rather than point fingers downward and say, "sorry, that wasn't my call."

Being as he certainly must have been aware of the decision, at the time it was being made, and could have easily given his input to it, or chosen to override it, had he wished to.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11154553

Maybe it was. But there are also moment where, when someone says or does something that seems rash and ill-considered (and may even seem a bit unsettling) -- when we would hope that an inner voice would call out for, you know, magnanimity and restraint:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turning_the_other_cheek

rather than a cold, hard, boot to the face. Which unfortunately was the CEO's instinctive response, in this situation.