John Lasseter, Pixar co-founder, leaving Disney at end of year
John Lasseter, the co-founder of Pixar and the head of Walt Disney Animation, will leave the Walt Disney Co. at the end of the year following a sexual harassment scandal, Disney announced late Friday.
He will stay on with Disney through the end of 2018 as a consultant and then leave the company where he helped revolutionize the art of storytelling using computer animation.
In November, Lasseter took a six-month “sabbatical” after apologizing to anyone who has ever been “on the receiving end of an unwanted hug” or any other gesture that made them feel “disrespected or uncomfortable.”
The Hollywood Reporter had reported that Lasseter “is well-known for hugging employees and others in the entertainment community,” one insider told the Hollywood Reporter. He “was also known by insiders for ‘grabbing, kissing, making comments about physical attributes.’”
On Friday, late in the day Disney announced Lasseter’s fate. “John had a remarkable tenure at Pixar and Disney Animation, reinventing the animation business, taking breathtaking risks, and telling original, high quality stories that will last forever,” CEO Bob Iger said in a statement.
“We are profoundly grateful for his contributions, which included a masterful and remarkable turnaround of The Walt Disney Animation Studios. One of John’s greatest achievements is assembling a team of great storytellers and innovators with the vision and talent to set the standard in animation for generations to come,” he said.
In his own statement, Lasseter said, “The last six months have provided an opportunity to reflect on my life, career and personal priorities. While I remain dedicated to the art of animation and inspired by the creative talent at Pixar and Disney, I have decided the end of this year is the right time to begin focusing on new creative challenges. I am extremely proud of what two of the most important and prolific animation studios have achieved under my leadership and I’m grateful for all of the opportunities to follow my creative passion at Disney.”
