Pixar chief takes leave, cites ‘missteps’

LOS ANGELES — Just days before Pixar’s Coco is set to hit theatres, Pixar co-founder and Walt Disney Animation chief John Lasseter announced he is taking a six-month leave of absence citing “missteps” with employees.

The boisterous, Hawaiian shirt-wearing personality behind some of the most beloved children’s films of the past 30 years is the latest entertainment titan to be exposed for claims of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct in the workplace, including a reported “unwanted advance” toward actor and writer Rashida Jones, who had been working on the script for Toy Story 4.

In a vaguely worded memo obtained by the Associated Press Tuesday, Lasseter says he knows he has made some employees feel uncomfortable. “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,” Lasseter wrote. “No matter how benign my intent, everyone has the right to set their own boundaries and have them respected.”

A Disney spokesperson says the company is committed to maintaining a respectful work environment and supports Lasseter’s sabbatical. Representatives for Jones did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Lasseter, 60, is known for directing films such as Toy Story, A Bug’s Life and Cars, and has produced every Pixar feature since 2001’s Monsters, Inc. He has been the chief creative officer for Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios since 2006, when Disney purchased Pixar, and has overseen the recent Disney Animation renaissance with hits like Frozen and Moana.

A report in The Hollywood Reporter, citing unnamed sources, details a culture in which Lasseter was known to hug, kiss and grope female employees. His well-documented hugs were at one time apparently publicly regarded as a quirk of employment under Lasseter.