Emma Thompson Letter Shames Studio for Hiring Ex-Pixar Executive John Lasseter

In a scathing letter, actress Emma Thompson blasted Skydance Animation for hiring John Lasseter, who was ousted from Pixar Animation after being accused of inappropriate touching. Thompson, who left the voice cast of the Skydance’s upcoming film Luck, detailed her decision in the letter, which was released to the Los Angeles Times. “It feels very odd to me that you and your company would consider hiring someone with Mr. Lasseter’s pattern of misconduct given the present climate in which people with the kind of power that you have can reasonably be expected to step up to the plate,” Thompson wrote to the studio. Lasseter officially left Disney, where he was the head of Pixar animation, after publicly stating he had made “missteps” in November 2017. Female colleagues had accused him of unwanted physical contact, including unsolicited kisses and groping. 

“If a man has made women at his companies feel undervalued and disrespected for decades, why should the women at his new company think that any respect he shows them is anything other than an act that he’s required to perform by his coach, his therapist and his employment agreement?” Thompson wrote. “The message seems to be, ‘I am learning to feel respect for women so please be patient while I work on it. It’s not easy.’”

Head of Disney Animation Out After Misconduct AllegationsCUTTING TIES