DISNEY'S ANIMATION CHIEF ACCUSED OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.

[Based on a news item published in The Times of India dated 23rd November, 2017].
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 'mis-steps' with employees. The boisterous, Hawaiian shirt-wearing personality behind some of the most beloved children's films of the past thirty years like 'Toy Story' is the latest entertainment titan to be exposed for claims of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct in the workplace. In a vaguely-worded memo obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday, Lasseter says he knows he has made some employees feel disrespected and uncomfortable. 
"I deeply apologise if I have let you down. I especially want to apologise 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". The Hollywood Reporter published a story that said 'unwanted advance' towards actress and writer Rashida Jones led to her departure from Pixar, where she had been working on the script for 'Toy Story 4'. Jones called that allegation in the Reporter story untrue. "We did not leave Pixar because of unwanted advances", Jones and her writing partner Will McCormack wrote in a joint statement. A Disney spokesperson says the company is committed to maintaining a respectful work environment and supports Lasseter's sabbatical. Lasseter, 60, is known for directing films like 'Toy Story', 'Toy Story 2' and 'Cars', and has produced every Pixar feature since 2001's 'Monster's Inc'. He has been the chief creative officer for Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios since 2006, when Disney purchased Pixar. 
The Reporter story, 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. The Wall Street Journal had even cheekily detailed  his proclivity for hugs in a 2011 story and photo spread subtitled 'A sampling from among the 48 hugs adminsitered by Pixar chief John Lasseter during the WSJ's day-long adventure with him'.
-Challapalli Srinivas Chakravarthy- 
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