Boris Johnson drops out of U.K. leadership race, Internet explodes

After leading the U.K. out of the European Union, former London mayor Boris Johnson decides he's unlikely to win the Conservative leadership and become prime minister. Twitter users begin sharing their impression of #Borexit.

Actor Ewan McGregor calls former London mayor 'spineless' in expletive-ridden Twitter rant

Avneet Dhillon · CBC News · Posted: Jun 30, 2016 2:21 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 30, 2016

Vote Leave campaign leader, Boris Johnson, waves as he finishes delivering his speech in London Thursday. The former London mayor announced he will not be running for prime minister. (Toby Melville/Reuters)

You can't make this stuff up.

After leading the U.K. out of the European Union, former London mayor Boris Johnson has decided he's not up for dealing with the Brexit aftermath.

At a press conference on Thursday, Johnson announced he won't be running for the leadership of the Conservative Party and becoming prime minister.

Johnson was previously considered the favourite to succeed David Cameron, who resigned last week following the Brexit vote.

To make things even more confusing, Tory MP Theresa May — who backed the Remain side — is now one of the leading candidates in the race.

Johnson's announcement came as a surprise, to say the least.

The best reaction to the announcement that Boris Johnson has ruled himself out of the leadership race <a href="https://t.co/Y5i4gGv9hq">pic.twitter.com/Y5i4gGv9hq</a>
—@AndrewBloch

Still reeling from the results of the EU referendum, Twitter users began sharing their impression of #Borexit.

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Borexit?src=hash">#Borexit</a> <br><br>Dear god. The line between reality and satire has blurred so much I don't know what's real anymore.
—@Prork

What chapter are we up to in the story of things we thought might happen after Brexit but now aren't happening? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Borexit?src=hash">#Borexit</a>
—@susannareid100

There's an irony in Boris failing to clean up his own mess, despite being the candidate to most resemble a mop. <a href="https://t.co/8FphEYkNOt">pic.twitter.com/8FphEYkNOt</a>
—@ChrisPresswell

Actor Ewan McGregor didn't mince words, calling Johnson "spineless" and his Leave campaign "ludicrous."

<a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson">@BorisJohnson</a> You spineless c$&t You lead this ludicrous campaign to leave EU. Win, and now fuc& off to let someone else clear up your mess.
—@mcgregor_ewan

Many users called out the politician for failing to finish what he started and leaving the cleanup to someone else.

Boris Johnson executes his meticulously-planned political strategy: <a href="https://t.co/sXiETPU76v">pic.twitter.com/sXiETPU76v</a>
—@RKWinvisibleman

Boris is like the guy who shows up at the party uninvited, starts a fight, throws the TV from the balcony, shits in the pool and leaves.
—@SovietSergey

Reporting a hit and run. Wanted for causing an accident last week and failing to stop at the scene <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/boris?src=hash">#boris</a> <a href="https://t.co/1EjdxEAYbz">pic.twitter.com/1EjdxEAYbz</a>
—@kriscoverdale

Comedian Matt Lucas, who resembles the former mayor, is well-known for his impersonation of Johnson. He took to Twitter to express his second-hand embarrassment.

So mortified by the general behaviour of Boris Johnson that I'm considering having plastic surgery.
—@RealMattLucas

Boris Johnson. The People's Coward.
—@RealMattLucas

Johnson says Brexit will be a breeze, but whoever ends up replacing David Cameron will need to negotiate terms with EU leaders, dealing with questions about immigration and the economy.

C'Mon, which of us hasn't destroyed nation-state while pushing a sham referendum to further our career, only to have it blow up in our face?
—@HeerJeet