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Pixar Director Leaves Disney After Allegations Of Misconduct

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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.

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