The statement in the article had a footnote that provided a link to a 2022 Verge article in which Rochko said on the “BDFL model”:
That’s what I would prefer to stick with, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think there’s better ways to involve other people and have better communication.
Moreover his behaviour in maintaining Mastodon is very much inline with this model. It wasn’t name calling, it is literally what he is and happy to be described as.