We’ve all heard of John Lasseter. He’s the man behind movies like Toy Story and all of the Pixar movies. His name is synonymous with entertainment. But when John Lasseter did something really bad, everyone in the business world was shocked when he was accused of sexual harassment and other bad behavior. He is the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar.
So, it’s important that we take some time to talk about some of the most important parts of the Lasseter scandal. We’re going to look at this closely and look at the events that have happened since.
A Timeline of Key Developments in the Lasseter Controversy
In November 2017, several individuals raised allegations regarding Lasseter’s misconduct. Shockingly, the renowned creator of Toy Story crossed boundaries by engaging in inappropriate behavior. Multiple women shared accounts of the animation legend consistently making unwelcome physical contact, uttering inappropriate remarks, and fostering a hostile work environment for female colleagues.
Later on, John Lasseter announced that he would be taking a six-month sabbatical from Disney and Pixar, citing “missteps” in a memo distributed to staff. But the thing was evident, Lasseter was in some sort of improper conduct probe, and the media picked up on that.
In June 2018, after completing his sabbatical, Lasseter confirmed that he would be leaving Disney and Pixar at the end of the year, stating that he would take on a consulting role until his departure. All of this comes with the backlash of the Weinstein case and the Me Too Movement. Social events certainly didn’t go in favor of the producer and filmmaker. Of that controversy, he was removed from any credit in Toy Story 4.
Lasseter Goes To Another Company
In January 2019, John Lasseter—an acclaimed producer and filmmaker—took on the role of head at Skydance Animation. However, this decision faced criticism from industry professionals and the #MeToo movement. Fast forward to July 2021, Lasseter unveiled “Luck,” a captivating film set to be distributed by Apple under their prestigious Apple Original Films label.
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Reactions from the Industry and Colleagues
As news of Lasseter’s misconduct and shenanigans became widespread, reactions from industry professionals ranged from shock and disappointment to calls for accountability, particularly in a moment where people like Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, and Kevin Spacey face the consequences of their poor judgment. So the question is evident, why can’t Lasseter face the same consequences?
Disney Does The Corporate Stint
Disney, the parent company of Pixar, did basically what big corporations in America do when these sorts of things take place, they send some employees to read a carefully drafted statement expressing their commitment to fostering a safe and respectful workplace.
The company also detailed that they would be working with Lasseter to address the allegations and determine his future with the organization.
John Lasseter’s Apology and Future Plans
When Lasseter said he was leaving Disney because of the misconduct issue, the Toy Story producer said he was sorry and took responsibility for his actions. And also said that he knew how his actions affected the people around him. But an apology isn’t enough in this situation, is it?
In the wake of the “Me Too” movement, it’s important to point out that Lasseter’s response didn’t do enough to address the many allegations against him. Nowadays, these issues demand accountability. Otherwise, he’s going to keep doing it again. They also say that it didn’t give a clear plan for restitution or changing his behavior in the future.
The John Lasseter scandal is a good reminder that sexual harassment and bad behavior at work are not okay. Even though he apologized, many people still feel betrayed by the way Disney handled the situation and seemed to be soft on Lasseter.
Because of Lasseter’s demeanor and the way in which he’s treated. The controversial misconduct scandal is still a problem because there’s no accountability. If there’s no accountability, the seed is there for people like him to keep doing it over and over again.
John Lasseter won’t be the last to come under fire for not being able to keep his hands to himself. With this in mind, it’s important for everyone to stay up to date on this issue and what it means.
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