UPDATED with a statement from Women in Animation. 
 
 The Walt Disney Co.’s decision Friday to part ways with Pixar co-founder John Lasseter ends months of speculation about whether he would return to the two animation studios that thrived under his creative influence, but came without acknowledging the “misdeeds” that led to his abrupt departure on sabbatical over six months ago. 
 
 Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger issued a statement lauding Lasseter for reinventing animation, taking “breathtaking risks,” telling original stories and for revitalizing The Walt Disney Animation Studio. He was silent on the reason for the chief creative officer’s exit. 
 
 Lasseter, who was the creative force behind such billion-dollar franchises as Toy Story and Cars, had been accused of unwanted physical contact with female subordinates — from the “hugs” he acknowledged in a statement of contrition last fall to darker accounts of unsolicited kisses and groping that sources confided to Deadline. Disney placed Lasseter on sabbatical in November after he admitting to vague “missteps.” 
 
 Disney, which acted decisively in the case of Roseanne Barr’s racist tweet, reportedly spent months evaluating the claims against Lasseter. In February, Walt Disney Animation Studios held a “day of listening” to allow the animation staff to air workplace concerns. 
 
 As recently as last month, sources floated the possibility of Lasseter returning to Disney in a role that would retain his creative input but limit his managerial responsibilities. 
 
 But one well-placed source told Deadline there was a gathering sense that the employees didn’t really want Lasseter to return. Some even threatened to quit, according to another person familiar with the matter. Indeed, some in the animation community started a #LoseLasseter campaign on social media and launched a petition on Change.org demanding his ouster. 
 
 “If Lasseter is allowed to return, it is not only an insult to the current contributions of hundreds of employees that contribute more to the company’s success, but also will demonstrate that such behavior will be tolerated by Disney-Pixar,” Animation Heroine wrote in a Change.org petition that has attracted 68 signatures. “Lasseter’s return would be a direct dismissal of those he has hurt, and his continued presence would contribute to an unsafe environment of mistrust.” 
 
 Women in Animation President Marge Dean said the world changed last fall because courageous women spoke up. 
 
 “‘Misconduct’ is no longer tolerated in the work place and the safety of all employees has become a priority for our industry,” Dean said. “Women in Animation supports and celebrates that change with the expectation that it will encourage retention of women in the animation workforce.” 
 
 Lasseter will serve in a consulting role at Disney throughout the end of the year, after which time he’ll look for something new. His attorney did not respond to requests for comment. 
 
 “The last six months have provided an opportunity to reflect on my life, career and personal priorities,” Lasseter said in a statement. “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.” 
 
 Insiders say expect Frozen director Jennifer Lee to be promoted at Walt Disney Animation, and Pete Docter, director of films Up and Monsters, Inc., to take on greater responsibilities at Pixar. That scenario was first reported by The New York Times. 
 
 On the heels of the corporate drama, Pixar’s Incredibles 2 opens next weekend. ||||| One longtime Pixar employee says Lasseter was known for "grabbing, kissing, making comments about physical attributes." 
 
 Rashida Jones is still credited as a writer on Toy Story 4, the next installment in the beloved franchise. But, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter, the actress and her writing partner at the time, Will McCormack, left the project early on after John Lasseter, the acclaimed head of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation, made an unwanted advance. 
 
 THR made repeated requests for comment to Jones and McCormack starting on Nov. 7 but received no response. In a Nov. 21 statement to The New York Times, Jones and McCormack said, "We did not leave Pixar because of unwanted advances. That is untrue. That said, we are happy to see people speaking out about behavior that made them uncomfortable. We parted ways because of creative and, more importantly, philosophical differences." They described Pixar as "a culture where women and people of color do not have an equal creative voice," adding, "We encourage Pixar to be leaders in bolstering, hiring and promoting more diverse and female storytellers and leaders.” Disney declined to comment on the alleged incident involving Jones though a studio source said the departure was over "creative differences." 
 
 Multiple sources at Pixar and in the animation community spoke with THR about Lasseter's alleged behavior but asked not to be named out of fear that their careers in the tight-knit animation community would be damaged. Based on their accounts, the alleged incident involving Jones was not an isolated occurrence. One longtime Pixar employee says Lasseter, who is well-known for hugging employees and others in the entertainment community, was also known by insiders for "grabbing, kissing, making comments about physical attributes." Multiple sources say Lasseter is known to drink heavily at company social events such as premiere parties, but this source says the behavior was not always confined to such settings. 
 
 Now Lasseter is taking a leave of absence from Pixar after acknowledging "painful" conversations and unspecified "missteps," he wrote in a memo to staff on Tuesday. The leave is said to be for six months, a source tells THR. 
 
 "I have always wanted our animation studios to be places where creators can explore their vision with the support and collaboration of other gifted animators and storytellers," Lasseter stated. "This kind of creative culture takes constant vigilance to maintain. It's built on trust and respect, and it becomes fragile if any members of the team don't feel valued. As a leader, it's my responsibility to ensure that doesn't happen; and I now believe I have been falling short in this regard." 
 
 The executive added: "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." 
 
 It is hard to overstate Lasseter's value to Disney. He is known as the genius behind Pixar films from Toy Story to Inside Out to Coco, opening Nov. 22. He took charge of Walt Disney Animation in 2006 and led a revival that included such gigantic hits as Frozen. 
 
 Sources say some women at Pixar knew to turn their heads quickly when encountering him to avoid his kisses. Some used a move they called "the Lasseter" to prevent their boss from putting his hands on their legs. 
 
 A longtime insider says he saw a woman seated next to Lasseter in a meeting that occurred more than 15 years ago. "She was bent over and [had her arm] across her thigh," he says. "The best I can describe it is as a defensive posture ... John had his hand on her knee, though, moving around." After that encounter, this person asked the woman about what he had seen. "She said it was unfortunate for her to wear a skirt that day and if she didn't have her hand on her own right leg, his hand would have traveled." 
 
 The same source said he once noticed an oddly cropped photo of Lasseter standing between two women at a company function. When he mentioned that to a colleague, he was told, "We had to crop it. Do you know where his hands were?" 
 
 Another former insider remembers awkward encounters with Lasseter, who liked — as many in the industry do — to hug in meetings. "You'd hug him and he'd whisper in your ear, a long time," this person says. "He hugged and hugged and everyone's looking at you. Just invading the space." 
 
 Disney's statement regarding Lasseter's leave of absence read, "We are committed to maintaining an environment in which all employees are respected and empowered to do their best work. We appreciate John’s candor and sincere apology and fully support his sabbatical." 
 
 Lasseter is best known as one of the founders of Pixar, which began as a part of the graphics group at Lucasfilm. Along with Ed Catmull, he popularized CGI in animation with early films like Monsters Inc. In 2006, after Disney purchased Pixar, Lasseter was named the chief creative officer of both Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. He has since become the face of all Disney animation, overseeing the recent resurgence of the studio's namesake brand with properties like Frozen and Moana. 
 
 While Lasseter has won two Oscars (one is a specialty Oscar for his work on Toy Story), Pixar has racked up eight best animated feature wins. Under Lasseter's purview, WDA has picked up three wins, most recently with 2016's Zootopia. 
 
 Pixar films have grossed over $6 billion at the domestic box office. The Emeryville-based company is set to release its next feature, Coco, on Wednesday. Pixar is currently working on a sequel to The Incredibles and the fourth Toy Story installment. WDA will release the Wreck It Ralph sequel next year. 
 
 A former Pixar employee requesting anonymity says Lasseter's leave of absence statement is "ridiculous" and "trivializing this behavior." The employee adds, "To sum this up as unwanted hugs is belittling and demeaning. If it was just unwanted hugs, he wouldn't be stepping down." 
 
 Carolyn Giardina contributed to this report. 
 
 Nov. 21, 8:00 pm Updated with statement from Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. ||||| type Movie Current Status In Season release date 06/17/17 performer Tom Hanks director John Lasseter Producers Pixar distributor Walt Disney Pictures 
 
 Actress and screenwriter Rashida Jones has addressed her exit from Pixar’s Toy Story 4 in the wake of John Lasseter, the animation studio’s chief creative officer, taking a formal leave of absence due to unspecified “missteps.” 
 
 In a statement issued Tuesday and obtained by EW, Jones and her writing partner, Will McCormack, refuted a report by The Hollywood Reporter that said they parted ways with the project after Lasseter made “an unwanted advance” toward Jones. Rather, the duo said, their departure had to do with the company’s treatment of female and minority voices. 
 
 “The breakneck speed at which journalists have been naming the next perpetrator renders some reporting irresponsible,” Jones and McCormack’s statement said. “We did not leave Pixar because of unwanted advances. That is untrue. We parted ways because of creative and, more importantly, philosophical differences. There is so much talent at Pixar, and we remain enormous fans of their films. However, it is also a culture where women and people of color do not have an equal creative voice.” 
 
 Noting that only one of the 20 films in the company’s history was co-directed by a woman and only one was directed by a person of color, Jones and McCormack called on Pixar “to be leaders in bolstering, hiring, and promoting more diverse and female storytellers and leaders. We hope we can encourage all those who have felt like their voices could not be heard in the past to feel empowered.” 
 
 Jones and McCormack, who previously co-wrote the 2012 film Celeste and Jesse Forever, had been brought on to pen the fourth installment of Pixar’s flagship franchise, which is currently scheduled to hit theaters in June 2019. 
 
 Lasseter announced in an internal memo Tuesday morning that he was taking a six-month sabbatical from his role as chief creative officer of Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Disneytoon. He also offered an apology “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.” Shortly after Lasseter’s memo went public, The Hollywood Reporter reported allegations of misconduct against him. 
 
 A Disney spokesperson said of Lasseter’s leave, “We are committed to maintaining an environment in which all employees are respected and empowered to do their best work. We appreciate John’s candor and sincere apology and fully support his sabbatical.” ||||| For more than 20 years, young women at Pixar Animation Studios have been warned about the behavior of John Lasseter, who just disclosed that he is taking a leave due to inappropriate conduct with women. The company’s co-founder is known as a hugger. Around Pixar’s Emeryville, Calif., offices, a hug from Lasseter is seen as a mark of approval. 
 
 But among female employees, there has long been widespread discomfort about Lasseter’s hugs and about the other ways he showers attention on young women. On Tuesday, that history caught up with him, as Lasseter became the latest prominent person to be accused of inappropriate behavior. This comes in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse and harassment scandal that brought down the movie mogul and has also tarnished other powerful men such as Charlie Rose, Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., and Amazon’s Roy Price. 
 
 In a memo to Pixar employees, Lasseter apologized for unwanted hugs and said he would take a six-month leave. 
 
 For the last decade, Lasseter has served as Disney’s chief creative officer, overseeing operations at both Pixar and the Walt Disney Animation Studios. The position made him the most powerful person in the field and perhaps the most influential animator since Walt Disney. 
 
 Related Viola Davis Wants #MeToo and Time's Up to Go Beyond Hollywood 'Toy Story 3,' 'Coco' Director Lee Unkrich to Exit Pixar After 25 Years 
 
 Disney had no comment. 
 
 Few in animation are willing to cross him. “He is a beloved figure, so I’m scared to speak out,” said one of numerous former employees who spoke to Variety over the last several weeks, all of whom refused to be identified by name for fear of career repercussions. Many described the culture at Pixar as toxic for women. “It’s sexist and misogynistic,” said a former employee. 
 
 Many former female Pixar employees said there was a classic whisper network at the animation company, where young women were advised to keep their distance from the co-founder. 
 
 Another former employee told Variety that she was cautioned about Lasseter soon after she started work there, in the late 1990s. 
 
 “Just be warned, he likes to hug the pretty girls,” she said she was told. “He might try to kiss you on the mouth.” 
 
 The employee said she was alarmed by how routine the whole thing seemed. “There was kind of a big cult around John,” she says. 
 
 Other employees noted that Lasseter’s drinking was also an issue. Several employees described wrap parties where Lasseter would take big swigs from a jug of vodka and pass it around. 
 
 Lasseter’s drinking featured prominently in an Esquire profile in 2011, in which he was described getting drunk in the office to celebrate the completion of “Cars 2.” 
 
 A number of ex-employees described Lasseter as an overgrown boy, with a limited sense of boundaries. 
 
 Some told Variety that he would make inappropriate comments about women, or touch them on their legs or backs. Some described receiving hugs that went on a few seconds too long. 
 
 “There is a currency there — the currency is touch, and being touched by this person who is always in charge,” said another former Pixar employee. “It’s personal and intimate and probably not appropriate.” 
 
 Another former employee said that after Pixar grew out of its Point Richmond office and moved to Emeryville in 2000, Lasseter’s behavior became more brazen. She said he would walk up to women in the office and kiss them on the lips. 
 
 “I found it shocking,” she said. “That’s not a normal way of greeting a colleague.” 
 
 She said she also heard from co-workers who told her that they had to hide from Lasseter at wrap parties. She said she never reported these issues because the systems were not in place to address the problem. 
 
 Another ex-employee said she was told that Lasseter had been spoken to about his behavior, and was assured that it had improved. Nevertheless, Lasseter’s comportment around women has continued to be an issue in recent years. 
 
 Another former Pixar worker said that when she first started at the company a few years ago, a co-worker cautioned her, “Oh, John’s gonna love you.” 
 
 “The consensus was that he was a hugger,” she said. “Male and female employees warned me that he could be touchy-feely. He could make comments that were uncomfortable or awkward or embarrassing for women. And it was all, ‘Oh ha ha, that’s just our John.'” 
 
 She said her manager kept her out of meetings where Lasseter would be present, telling her it would be best for her not to attend the intimate weekly reviews because “John has a hard time controlling himself around young pretty girls.” 
 
 Nevertheless, she would sometimes see Lasseter in the hallways, and felt uncomfortable when it appeared he was looking her up and down. 
 
 “It was almost comical how obvious he was about it,” she said. 
 
 She said that being excluded from meetings with Lasseter meant that she was not able to pitch or articulate her ideas or discuss her work with the director. She also felt left out of important conversations that went on in the review room. The experience made her feel undervalued and stifled in her career at the company, and she said it contributed to her decision to leave. 
 
 She said managers chose to thwart her career rather than “have difficult conversations with the most important, high-ranking and powerful man in the company.” 
 
 Pixar has often been described as a “boys’ club.” 
 
 In its early days, there very few women at the company at all. That imbalance showed in the company’s films — it took 13 films before the company produced one with a female lead: “Brave,” in 2012. That film was not an unalloyed triumph for feminism, however. Halfway through the film, Pixar fired the director, Brenda Chapman, and replaced her with a man. 
 
 As the company has grown to thousands of employees, it has publicly championed female employees. Some employees say that the “boys club” environment has abated, with numerous women in top positions. And several others say they never experienced any form of sexual harassment at Pixar, and described it as a wonderful place to work. 
 
 Since Disney purchased Pixar in 2006, Lasseter has split his time between Emeryville and Burbank. He has less day-to-day contact with lower-level employees. Still, he is known for over-the-top behavior at wrap parties, and the whispers about him persist. 
 
 The former employee who witnessed co-workers being kissed on the mouth said she hoped Lasseter would seek treatment. 
 
 “I don’t see taking a six-month vacation, which I’m sure he’ll be paid for, is really gonna be a solution,” she said. “I would hope he would individually apologize to people and get some help.” 
 
 Disney did not respond to an email request for comment about whether Lasseter was taking a paid leave.
– The man who co-founded Pixar and is seen as the creative force behind blockbusters such as the Toy Story and Cars franchises will soon be out of a job at Disney. John Lasseter, 61, has been on leave from parent company Disney since November after allegations of improper workplace behavior surfaced, including his propensity to wrap up everyone he meets in long bear hugs. Disney announced Friday that Lasseter—who previously acknowledged and apologized for his "missteps"—will shift into a vague consulting role through the end of the year and then depart for good, reports the New York Times. Disney execs were wrestling for months with whether to allow Lasseter to return, but Deadline reports on a "gathering sense" among employees that he would not have been welcome. Disney chief Bob Iger issued a statement that praised Lasseter for "reinventing the animation business, taking breathtaking risks, and telling original, high quality stories that will last forever,” and Lasseter issued one of his own thanking Disney and saying he's "extremely proud" of his work but that it's time to move on. Despite the positive public comments, the move amounts to what the Los Angeles Times describes as "a dramatic unraveling of one of the most storied careers in animation." The story notes that hugs were just a part of the problem, with female employees at Pixar alleging that Lasseter and other senior execs turned a blind eye to a corporate culture rife with crude jokes and inappropriate touching. (Actress and screenwriter Rashida Jones left Toy Story 4 and complained about Pixar's unequal treatment of women.)