Head of Disney's Pixar Studios to Take Leave After Apologizing -- 2nd Update
November 21 2017 - 6:23PM
Dow Jones News
By Ben Fritz and Alexandra Berzon
John Lasseter is taking a leave of absence from the senior
creative post at Walt Disney Co.'s animation operations, he told
staff Tuesday in an email that cited unspecified "missteps" on his
part, including making some personnel feel "disrespected and
uncomfortable."
Mr. Lasseter, 60 years old, is known for hugging people
liberally, in public and in private.
"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," he wrote in an email
reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
At times, said former Pixar employees contacted by the Journal,
Mr. Lasseter's habit of physical affection has made some people
feel awkward or uncomfortable. Because hugging is a central part of
his public persona, employees felt it would be difficult to ask him
not to do so, these people said.
Mr. Lasseter's note said: "everyone has the right to set their
own boundaries and have them respected."
A Disney spokesman in an email said: "We are committed to
maintaining an environment in which all employees are respected and
empowered to do their best work. We appreciate John's candor and
sincere apology and fully support his sabbatical."
A former employee told the Journal that during a meeting several
years ago, Mr. Lasseter put his hand on her thigh underneath the
table. The same employee said Mr. Lasseter would sometimes hold her
arm in public without asking permission, and hug her for extended
periods of time that made her uncomfortable. A spokesman for Disney
didn't respond to a request for comment on the former employee's
allegations or to a request to speak to Mr. Lasseter.
Several former Pixar employees, many of them women, said they
never felt uncomfortable around Mr. Lasseter, even when he hugged
them.
Mr. Lasseter has directed some Pixar's biggest films, including
"Toy Story" and "Cars," and has served as a public face for the
studio, which Disney acquired in 2006. He also has a formal
advisory role at Disney Imagineering, which designs and builds
rides and attractions for Disney's theme parks around the
world.
Mr. Lasseter's leave of absence comes as sexual-harassment
allegations have surfaced against numerous prominent men in
Hollywood and other industries. His note to staff didn't indicate
that his issues have been as serious as those that have led to the
firings of Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose and others.
PBS and CBS severed ties with Mr. Rose after the Washington Post
published an article detailing sexual-harassment allegations
against him by several women who had worked for him.
Mr. Rose on Monday apologized for inappropriate behavior, saying
in a statement posted on his Twitter account: "I have behaved
insensitively at times, and I accept responsibility for that,
though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate.
I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings, even though I
now realize I was mistaken."
Mr. Weinstein was fired as Weinstein Co.'s co-chairman after the
New York Times reported on allegations by actresses and former
employees that he had engaged in sexual harassment and other
inappropriate behavior. Mr. Weinstein has apologized for his past
behavior with colleagues but denied allegations of nonconsensual
sex.
Write to Ben Fritz at ben.fritz@wsj.com and Alexandra Berzon at
alexandra.berzon@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 21, 2017 18:08 ET (23:08 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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