In one of the more shocking developments in the wave of allegations and revelations about powerful Hollywood figures, Disney/Pixar animation boss John Lasseter has announced that he's taking an extended leave of absence from the companies in the wake of allegations about his alleged misconduct.
Employees from both companies have been coming forward anonymously to The Hollywood Reporter to detail Lasseter's behaviour, which in the past has apparently included unsolicited hugging, grabbing, kissing and making comments about physical attributes.
Lasseter's full statement can be found here{
"I’ve recently had a number of difficult conversations that have been very painful for me. It’s never easy to face your missteps, but it’s the only way to learn from them. As a result, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the leader I am today compared to the mentor, advocate and champion I want to be. It’s been brought to my attention that I have made some of you feel disrespected or uncomfortable. That was never my intent. Collectively, you mean the world to me, and I deeply apologize if I have let you down. I especially want to apologize to anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of an unwanted hug or any other gesture they felt crossed the line in any way, shape, or form. No matter how benign my intent, everyone has the right to set their own boundaries and have them respected."
The man who helped turn Pixar from an unknown company into a Hollywood behemoth also more recently aided in Disney Feature Animation's own resurgence, with hits such as Frozen. Now, his future is a lot cloudier.