A Black Lives Matter co-founder has resigned from her role as executive director after hitting out at a "right-wing smear campaign" that revealed her $3 million housing portfolio. Patrisse Cullors, an integral figure of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, made the announcement on Thursday and will reprise her role today. "I've created the infrastructure and the support, and the necessary bones and foundation, so that I can leave," she said. "It feels like the time is right." Ms Cullors cited the release of her second book and a TV deal as the cause of her departure, but it comes after a heated controversy over the foundation's finances and her personal wealth. Despite describing herself as a “trained marxist'' Ms Cullors owns numerous multi-million dollar properties, including a recently purchased $1.4 million home in an affluent LA neighborhood. BLM said she had "received a total of $120,000 since the organisation's inception in 2013, for duties such as serving as spokesperson and engaging in political education work”.