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He called lawmakers and journalists "cocksuckers" and "whores." Now he's resigned as governor of Puerto Rico.
UPDATE (Aug. 2nd, 2019): Ricardo Rossello, the embattled governor of Puerto Rico, will step down from office at 5pm EST after weeks of controversy.
Secretary of State Pedro Pierluisi will be sworn in to lead the territory.
In an emailed announcement from his office to the Associated Press, Rossello says Pierluisi does will not need confirmation from both houses of the island's legislature because he was named secretary of state, which is the next in line to be governor, during a recess appointment this week.
His statement says Pierluisi will be sworn in to complete Rossello's term, but it does not say exactly when.
This story is developing and will be updated...
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As increasingly frustrated protesters continued to mill in the streets, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello left the governor's mansion before breaking news to the world. But in a late-night video posted Wednesday, the embattled governor finally resigned from his position.
He will step down August 2.
The departure came after the so-called RickyLeaks scandal, where internal communications revealed homophobic and sexist comments made by himself as well as leading members of his administration.
Protesters broke out in cheers Wednesday night chanting "Ricky, te botamos," Spanish for "Ricky, we threw you out," according to a report by NBC News.
Rossello had been expected to quit much earlier in the day. And as he held off, a commission from the Puerto Rico House of Representatives announced there were grounds for impeaching the governor.
This marks the first time a governor of Puerto Rico has resigned. He will be succeeded by Head of Justice Wanda Vazquez, reports El Nuevo Dia.
Rossello has been plagued by corruption scandals and suffered amid criticism over response to Hurricane Maria in 2015. But the final straw became the release of internal communications revealing hateful comments about prominent LGBTQ and female figures.
Rossello derided openly gay CBS journalist David Begnaud, called Puerto Rican journalist Benjamin Torres Gotay and former Puerto Rico Senate President Eduardo Bhatia "cocksucker," and referred to New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito with the Spanish word for "whore."
Chief Financial Officer Christian Sobrino called out pop star Ricky Martin by stating that he "is such a male chauvinist that he fucks men because women don't measure up." Sobrino too has resigned.
Begnaud ultimately became one of the journalists covering the end of Rossello's career.
"You could not script a more dramatic standoff than the political soap opera that is engulfing in Puerto Rico right now," Begnaud tweeted.
Martin and out star Bad Bunny, meanwhile, joined in protests, which ultimately lasted 15 days, calling for Rossello's resignation.
Wednesday, as the day dragged on without resignation news, Martin tweeted out encouragement to protesters.
"Que siga la presion," he tweeted, or "Let the pressure follow."
