https://deadline.com/2019/01/john-lasseter-skydance-town-hall-apology-sexual-harassment-1202534949/We hear it ran an hour and half and was very emotional, with a red-faced Lasseter expressing to the 65-person team how he’s ready to turn a corner in treating women properly and creating a safe environment at his new employment. One insider tells Deadline that when Lasseter spoke, “You could hear a pin drop” in the room.
Forgoing his standard Hawaiian shirt in exchange for a green-colored top, Lasseter launched into a full apology expressing how deeply sorry and ashamed he was for his prior actions, which he admitted were unquestionably wrong. The former Pixar/Walt Disney Animation boss spoke with deep regret about making women feel unsafe and disrespected. Given obligations as a leader, he reportedly admitted he should have been more cognizant about the impact of his physical persona and presence.
Lasseter told the team atSkydance Animation, “I am deeply sorry for my actions, which wereunquestionablywrong.Ivery muchregret making women feel unsafe or disrespected.I willcontinue towork every day for the rest of my life to proveto you that Ihavegrown and learned.I am resolute in my commitment to build an animation studio upon a foundation ofequality,safety, trust and mutual respectfor everyone.”
Younger female employees grilled Lasseter whether he fully atoned for his mistakes, which led Disney putting him on a a six-month leave of absence last year before he eventually left the company. Lasseter promised the town hall crowd that he will work every day of his life to win back the trust around him.
