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Pixar's John Lasseter Takes Leave of Absence Amid Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
The Hollywood Reporter entertainment news source reported on Tuesday that John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios, is taking a six-month leave of absence after announcing it in a memo to staff.
The leave of absence comes as The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and the Vanity Fair magazine have published articles regarding Lasseter's alleged sexual misconduct within the company. Lasseter's memo acknowledged recent "difficult conversations" and "missteps."
Lasseter directed Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and Cars, and has also overseen and is credited as producer or executive producer for all of Pixar's films. Lasseter is a noted friend of Studio Ghibli co-founder and director Hayao Miyazaki, and Lasseter directed the English dub or executive-produced the English releases of several Ghibli films, including Spirited Away, Porco Rosso, and Ponyo.
According to a "current Pixar employee" cited by Vanity Fair, there is talk within the studio that Monsters Inc., Up, and Inside Out director Pete Docter may replace Lasseter as chief creative officer at Pixar. Docter was also the dubbing director and executive producer for Disney's English release of Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (Kim Masters), Variety (Gene Maddaus), Vanity Fair (Rebecca Keegan, Nicole Sperling) via Cartoon Brew (link 2)
