I don't think that is the case. I certainly would respect the CEO stating clearly that the employee was fired, that it had nothing to do with criticizing the lack of charity, and the reasoning has been clarified in private.

>If he did that, this whole thread would be about how Reddit CEO is a weasel PR-drone incapable of honest talk.

You don't seriously believe that do you? If he did that there wouldn't even be a thread here.

I don't think so; if he did that there would be no thread.

"Former Reddit worker does an AMA; CEO talks to him privately about why he was let go" is not nearly as catchy.

More like "Reddit to lay off an employee over feedback on charity spending"

Don't forget that just before Reddit's CEO commented, this guy was a hero of the thread; his comments could have started a completely different discussion.