After Pixar and Walt Disney Animation CEO John Lasseter announced that he was taking a six-month “sabbatical†due to unspecified “missteps,†reports of his inappropriate sexual behavior around co-workers have started to emerge. In addition to allegations of unwanted physical contact and a “sexist and misogynistic culture†at Pixar reported earlier, Deadline has a new report that indicates that Disney executives may have been well-aware of Lasseter’s behavior and developed ways to work around it. One former Pixar executive described Lasseter’s obsession with the young character actresses who played “fairies†as part of a Tinker Bell–themed product line. “He was inappropriate with the fairies,†the former executive said, noting that Lasseter’s behavior often included physical contact and hugs, and that one employee became a designated escort for Lasseter after Disney flew them out for a event in New York. “We had to have someone make sure he wasn’t alone with them.â€
Deadline’s story also includes reports of Lasseter displaying similar behavior with female subordinates, and that one instance of him allegedly “passionately kissing†a female employee at a 2010 Miramax party “prompted high-level discussions about Lasseter’s conduct.†Disney has not made any further statements on Lasseter since the announcement of his leave-taking.