John Lasseter Trying To Creep Back Into Industry, Wants To Do A Podcast: Report
It’s official: disgraced Disney and Pixar animation chief John Lasseter is looking for a post-Disney gig. His current job at Disney ends on December 31, 2018.
Lasseter was booted from the Walt Disney Company last June, following revelations of an extended history of sexual misconduct, including inappropriate sexual advances, physical harasssment, and overseeing a toxic and unsafe work culture at Pixar.
The news that Lasseter is actively seeking a new job was reported by the Washington Post, citing sources who say that Lasseter recently met with the agency William Morris Endeavor (WME).
A person who attended the meeting told the Post that Lasseter “gave his side of the accusations and outlined his hopes for his next act.”
Among Lasseter’s new areas of interest: podcasting.
Cartoon Brew observed last month that Lasseter was almost certainly taking meetings around town. At the time, we wrote, “Disney may not be able to work with Lasseter, but there’s plenty of Disney competitors that would be thrilled to have him on their team.”
But should Lasseter find himself in an entertainment industry role so soon after being ousted from Disney, it will raise serious questions about what Hollywood is doing to reform the workplace and protect its workers from those who have been accused of serial harassment and sexual misconduct.