'Toy Story' director, Pixar co-founder leaves Disney after allegations of misconduct

Vandana Rambaran, DCNF

Pixar’s co-founder John Lasseter announced Saturday that he is leaving Disney amidst allegations of misconduct.

“I have decided the end of this year is the right time to begin focusing on new creative challenges,” he said, in a statement to BBC News on Friday.

Lasseter went on a six-month sabbatical after multiple employees accused the two-time Oscar winner of “grabbing, kissing, making comments about physical attributes,” which was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter in November.

“I’ve recently had a number of difficult conversations that have been very painful for me. It’s never easy to face your missteps, but it’s the only way to learn from them,” Lasseter said in a statement to the New York Times, at the time of his leave.

The Toy Story director was reportedly a hugger, using that as a gateway to unwanted advances.

“You’d hug him and he’d whisper in your ear, a long time,” a source close to the executive told The Hollywood Reporter. “He hugged and hugged and everyone’s looking at you. Just invading the space.”

Lasseter is just one of over 100 men in Hollywood who have been accused of some form of harassment or assault in a growing “Me Too” movement aimed at fighting sexual harassment in the work place since October.

Follow Vandana on Twitter

Send tips to vandana@dailycallernewsfoundation.org

For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!