DVDizzy Forum

A former Pixar employee recalls a personal experience.

I must stress this: everyone at Pixar knew about Lasseter.

My hire coincided with the wrap party for one of their very early movies. Consequently, my wife and I were invited to it. She was a huge fan of the Pixar films and when she noticed Lasseter at the party she asked me If we could go over and speak with him. We went over and I introduced my wife. Lasseter stood there without saying a word, drink in hand, swaying from side to side, and looking my wife up and down whilst licking his lips. My wife and I were stunned and I promptly escorted my wife away.

This was only the start of my connection to John and, believe me, it got much, much worse. It was always about power for John and his delight in exploiting it at every opportunity. Lasseter was literally out of control throughout his tenure at Disney Pixar, with top management supporting his every tyrannical move.

Source: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/artist-right ... 3737511902


An animator also claimed that Lasseter's behavior was well-known in the industry.

Mike Scott wrote:Flip, even *I* heard he had 'wandering hands' before any of this story broke, and I live on the other side of the world.

Source: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/artist-right ... 3737813447

What a POS. I’ve always known Disney is amoral—$$$ trumps all else for them—but what a disgrace they are to even consider bringing back a sexual harasser of this level to lead two companies that generally speaking make films for children. Wouldn't shock me--this is the world of Trump after all--but what a disgrace.

Yeah, all these details are making me look at Disney in a new light and not a flattering one. I mean, like Disney's Divinity, I know Disney is a business first and foremost (or it has been acting like one exceedingly since Roy Disney's passing), but I never thought they would stoop to this level that such an open secret was kept under wraps because the man in question was a visionary. Every detail I hear about him sickens me and he's really not too far off from being like that pig Weinstein.

And to think that the public spent so much time criticizing Walt Disney for being racist, sexist, and an anti-Semite, when all the while, the true monster was widely known and even recognized as such in most circles, but everything was swept under to protect his image because of what he's contributed.

The fact that Disney is/has been even reconsidering bringing him back disgusts me beyond all measure.

I sort of wonder what a lot of film critics or historians would say about it considering even when Pixar made bad movies they practically still defended them pretty much overlooking some of Lasseter's decisions (I have noticed some critics didn't mention the firing of Brenda Chapman from Brave for example).

I do find it a little strange that there has been no updates more than a day after the announcements at Disney, whatever the announcements were all about. Maybe the employees had to sign some confidentiality agreement. But what Lasseter is concerned, his future at Disney will obviously be revealed sooner or later.

I don't see any point in involving Trump in this, as it could lead to a political discussion that has very little to do with Disney. As for Walt Disney himself, the rumors about him being racist and anti-Semite have turned out to be incorrect. I have not heard any claims about him being sexist, but it is said he had a rather puritanical attitude towards anything sexual at the studio and between his employees. He was a human like everybody else and had his mistakes, but I'm guessing he would not tolerate such behavior if he was still around today.

If he is allowed to return I’m going to puke.

And if Hilary Clinton was in charge of Disney Lasseter wouldn't be going anywhere.

Hillary is not in charge. An actual sexual predator was elected, remember?

PatrickvD wrote:Hillary is not in charge. An actual sexual predator was elected, remember?

So when Clinton was informed that a man was harrasing women on her staff, she wouldn't fire him?

Rumpelstiltskin wrote:I do find it a little strange that there has been no updates more than a day after the announcements at Disney, whatever the announcements were all about. Maybe the employees had to sign some confidentiality agreement. But what Lasseter is concerned, his future at Disney will obviously be revealed sooner or later.

I don't see any point in involving Trump in this, as it could lead to a political discussion that has very little to do with Disney. As for Walt Disney himself, the rumors about him being racist and anti-Semite have turned out to be incorrect. I have not heard any claims about him being sexist, but it is said he had a rather puritanical attitude towards anything sexual at the studio and between his employees. He was a human like everybody else and had his mistakes, but I'm guessing he would not tolerate such behavior if he was still around today.

45 seems to be involved in everything these days and he was relevant in the Pocahontas thread. Walt may not have been racist, sexist, and an anti-Semite, but the popular conception of him is that all of those things apply to him, and Meryl Streep's speech certainly didn't help matters.

DisneyEra wrote:

PatrickvD wrote:Hillary is not in charge. An actual sexual predator was elected, remember?

So when Clinton was informed that a man was harrasing women on her staff, she wouldn't fire him?

The situation was completely different. Not every situation has been black/white, just look at the Aziz Ansari case. I stand by Clinton's actions and she already said that she would have done things differently now. Not sure why you are demonizing her when the actual president has done way worse. Perhaps you need a refresher on Stormy?

JeanGreyForever wrote:

Rumpelstiltskin wrote:I do find it a little strange that there has been no updates more than a day after the announcements at Disney, whatever the announcements were all about. Maybe the employees had to sign some confidentiality agreement. But what Lasseter is concerned, his future at Disney will obviously be revealed sooner or later.

I don't see any point in involving Trump in this, as it could lead to a political discussion that has very little to do with Disney. As for Walt Disney himself, the rumors about him being racist and anti-Semite have turned out to be incorrect. I have not heard any claims about him being sexist, but it is said he had a rather puritanical attitude towards anything sexual at the studio and between his employees. He was a human like everybody else and had his mistakes, but I'm guessing he would not tolerate such behavior if he was still around today.

45 seems to be involved in everything these days and he was relevant in the Pocahontas thread. Walt may not have been racist, sexist, and an anti-Semite, but the popular conception of him is that all of those things apply to him, and Meryl Streep's speech certainly didn't help matters.

DisneyEra wrote: So when Clinton was informed that a man was harrasing women on her staff, she wouldn't fire him?

The situation was completely different. Not every situation has been black/white, just look at the Aziz Ansari case. I stand by Clinton's actions and she already said that she would have done things differently now. Not sure why you are demonizing her when the actual president has done way worse. Perhaps you need a refresher on Stormy?

Oh, so you stand by Clinton because she would have done things differently now, but back in 2008, it was OK? Gotcha.

DisneyEra wrote: Oh, so you stand by Clinton because she would have done things differently now, but back in 2008, it was OK? Gotcha.

She did what she thought was best at the time and I couldn't ask for anything else than that. Views change, especially since in 2008, we weren't privy to the social and cultural change that is happening now.

JeanGreyForever wrote:

DisneyEra wrote: Oh, so you stand by Clinton because she would have done things differently now, but back in 2008, it was OK? Gotcha.

She did what she thought was best at the time and I couldn't ask for anything else than that. Views change, especially since in 2008, we weren't privy to the social and cultural change that is happening now.

I'm glad it is happing now. These people need to held accountable for this despicable behavior, regardless if they're Democrats/Republican/Hollywood Star/Pro Athlete.

DisneyEra wrote:

JeanGreyForever wrote: She did what she thought was best at the time and I couldn't ask for anything else than that. Views change, especially since in 2008, we weren't privy to the social and cultural change that is happening now.

I'm glad it is happing now. These people need to held accountable for this despicable behavior, regardless if they're Democrats/Republican/Hollywood Star/Pro Athlete.

Completely agree.

DisneyEra wrote:

PatrickvD wrote:Hillary is not in charge. An actual sexual predator was elected, remember?

So when Clinton was informed that a man was harrasing women on her staff, she wouldn't fire him?

Why do you assume I’m a Clinton fan? I’m not from the US so I have no horse in this race. Clinton is a hypocrite and she would have been a lousy president. Doesn’t change the fact that a sexual predator is president of the United States. And since you brought up Hillary I’m just going to assume you helped elect the orange offender.

So congrats. Keep deflecting. I’m sure there are still a bunch of Hillary emails yet to be uncovered. The fact that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were the best US politics could come up with is exactly what triggered the metoo movement. Normal people are sick of it. Harassment, racism, homophobia and abuse knows no political color. It’s everywhere.

I must say I'm glad this has happened, and that those women talked about what they went through. I never really liked John Lasseter. I mean, I like the movies he has worked on, but I hated he just dismissed hand drawn animation. And there was just something about him that really grinded my gears.

Hopefully, he will not return to take the job.

PatrickvD wrote:

DisneyEra wrote: So when Clinton was informed that a man was harrasing women on her staff, she wouldn't fire him?

Why do you assume I’m a Clinton fan? I’m not from the US so I have no horse in this race. Clinton is a hypocrite and she would have been a lousy president. Doesn’t change the fact that a sexual predator is president of the United States. And since you brought up Hillary I’m just going to assume you helped elect the orange offender.

So congrats. Keep deflecting. I’m sure there are still a bunch of Hillary emails yet to be uncovered. The fact that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were the best US politics could come up with is exactly what triggered the metoo movement. Normal people are sick of it. Harassment, racism, homophobia and abuse knows no political color. It’s everywhere.

For your information I didn't vote for niether of them. BOTH Trump & former President Bill Clinton have been acussed of Sexual Assult. And Hilary had a chance to remove a Sexaul Harasser from her campain staff & didn't. None of them should get a free pass because of this. Also, I never said you were a Clinton supporter, so why do assume i'm a Trump supporter? Becasue I brought up the Clintons in this blog about Sexual Harrasment allagations?

My apologies. The people who keep bringing her up nearly a year and a half after she lost the election are usually Trump supporters. The woman needs to go away. She’s not doing the discussion any good considering her poor track record with human rights. From accepting Saudi money to opposing gay marriage and her continued support of harassers, which included Weinstein. What a mess.

We need moral leadership. Also at Disney and PIXAR. These artists devoted their life and talent to this craft and then they end up working for pigs like Lasseter. It’s devastating.

PatrickvD wrote:My apologies. The people who keep bringing her up nearly a year and a half after she lost the election are usually Trump supporters. The woman needs to go away. She’s not doing the discussion any good considering her poor track record with human rights. From accepting Saudi money to opposing gay marriage and her continued support of harassers, which included Weinstein. What a mess.

We need moral leadership. Also at Disney and PIXAR. These artists devoted their life and talent to this craft and then they end up working for pigs like Lasseter. It’s devastating.

Apology accepted. Sexual Assault as well as Racism will no longer be left unchecked or tolerated. And I agree that the talented Artist at WDAS/Pixar should be were the credit goes. As for President Trump, I actually don't know anyone who supports him. All my friends/family despise the mere sound of his name

DisneyEra wrote: So when Clinton was informed that a man was harrasing women on her staff, she wouldn't fire him?

In the case of one incident where he touched a woman's shoulders, probably not. But his pay would be docked and he’d be required to go to counseling which is more than Disney ever did to Lasseter. She also moved the woman in question so she would no longer have to deal with this man; Disney did not protect any of the women who had to answer directly to Lasseter.

Moreover, let's not even pretend that the man from Hillary Clinton's '08 campaign is anywhere in the same league as f***ing John Lasseter and his near-absolute control of power at WDAS and PIXAR/the 50-100+ women he harassed or touched while knowing and not caring they were uncomfortable/the women he chased out of the industry like Brenda Chapman. That's an enormous leap.

But I guess that would actually involve reading the actual events of all these sexual harassment stories rather than grouping them all under one banner. Americans don't like to read, I know, they just go by the headlines. That's very helpful to the U.S.'s enemies.

PatrickvD wrote: The woman needs to go away.

She doesn't and I hope she doesn’t.