Planned Parenthood President Leana Wen announced on Twitter Tuesday that she's president no more. Apparently, the company blindsided her about her firing.
I just learned that the @PPFA Board ended my employment at a secret meeting. We were engaged in good faith negotiations about my departure based on philosophical differences over the direction and future of Planned Parenthood. My statement to come shortly.
— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) July 16, 2019
According to her full statement, Dr. Wen says that she and the board had "philosophical differences" over the company's future. She had wanted to pursue a range of reproductive services, but the board reportedly wanted to double down on abortion.
To all my colleagues at Planned Parenthood, the tens of thousands of dedicated people who are on the frontlines every day, providing life-saving, life-transforming care and fighting to protect access to that care: you are my heroes. Thank you for what you do. pic.twitter.com/6N4RMiTQAG
— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) July 16, 2019
My statement stepping down as President/CEO of @PPFA and President of @PPAct. pic.twitter.com/WJ3EBgJIAy
— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) July 16, 2019
Dr. Wen took over as president last year following the departure of Cecile Richards and was the first physician in nearly 50 years to lead the organization, Planned Parenthood noted. She had the job for just eight months.
Pro-life groups have often noted that Planned Parenthood is the biggest abortion giant in the country and is all about profit. But Wen pushed back at that narrative.
“The accurate representation of what we at Planned Parenthood do is reproductive healthcare, abortion is part of reproductive healthcare," Wen said in defense.
She tended to contradict herself quite a lot, such as when she rejected, then claimed the term, "pro-life."
“I also reject the term pro-life,” she said last November. “I’m a doctor, I went to medical school, I trained to save lives. I’m pro-life, I’m pro-women, I’m pro-family, I’m pro-patient and it’s important for us to go beyond these labels to talk about what it is that we want at the end of the day which is that we are a society that trusts women.”
Editor's Note: This piece has been updated with Dr. Wen's full statement.