It was only a matter of time before Skydance Animation experienced some sort of blowback from hiring ex-Pixar boss John Lasseter to head up its studio. After being accused of sexual misconduct (and receiving disciplinary action from Pixar/Disney, including his dismissal), many folks considered the hiring of Lasseter to be problematic, or at the very least, highly questionable. Well, last week, the first domino fell, as Emma Thompson was reported to have left the production of the upcoming animated feature “Luck,” due to the executive’s involvement. And in a new letter penned by the actress, she minces no words and asks some very pointed questions.
Honestly, it would have been very easy for Thompson, a two-time Oscar winner, to leave the production quietly and without making a public address. She has multiple big projects on the horizon and didn’t really require an explanation for leaving “Luck.” That being said, the letter she wrote to the studio behind the film, asking very specific questions about Lasseter and making no effort to hide the fact that he is the sole reason for her departure, is probably the worst case scenario for Skydance Animation, and could lead to similar actions by other actors and filmmakers.
“It feels very odd to me that you and your company would consider hiring someone with Mr. Lasseter’s pattern of misconduct given the present climate in which people with the kind of power that you have can reasonably be expected to step up to the plate,” wrote Thompson.
She proceeds to ask a series of questions to Skydance, for which she clearly would like answers. These “queries” bring up his salary, the feelings of the studio’s workers who were not consulted before the hiring, and what steps Skydance has gone through to ensure the safety of women today. Again, it’s obvious that Thompson is using her status and credibility to shine a massive light on this situation.
“I hope these queries make the level of my discomfort understandable,” she said. “I regret having to step away because I love Alessandro [Carloni] so much and think he is an incredibly creative director. But I can only do what feels right during these difficult times of transition and collective consciousness raising.”
The actress continued, “I am well aware that centuries of entitlement to women’s bodies whether they like it or not is not going to change overnight. Or in a year. But I am also aware that if people who have spoken out — like me — do not take this sort of a stand then things are very unlikely to change at anything like the pace required to protect my daughter’s generation.”
Now, we just have to wait and see how Skydance Animation responds, and if there will be some more actions from other actors signed onto “Luck” or any other production at the studio.
Here is the full letter (via LA Times):
As you know, I have pulled out of the production of “Luck” — to be directed by the very wonderful Alessandro Carloni. It feels very odd to me that you and your company would consider hiring someone with Mr. Lasseter’s pattern of misconduct given the present climate in which people with the kind of power that you have can reasonably be expected to step up to the plate.
I realise that the situation — involving as it does many human beings — is complicated. However these are the questions I would like to ask:
If a man has been touching women inappropriately for decades, why would a woman want to work for him if the only reason he’s not touching them inappropriately now is that it says in his contract that he must behave “professionally”?
If a man has made women at his companies feel undervalued and disrespected for decades, why should the women at his new company think that any respect he shows them is anything other than an act that he’s required to perform by his coach, his therapist and his employment agreement? The message seems to be, “I am learning to feel respect for women so please be patient while I work on it. It’s not easy.”
Much has been said about giving John Lasseter a “second chance.” But he is presumably being paid millions of dollars to receive that second chance. How much money are the employees at Skydance being paid to GIVE him that second chance?
If John Lasseter started his own company, then every employee would have been given the opportunity to choose whether or not to give him a second chance. But any Skydance employees who don’t want to give him a second chance have to stay and be uncomfortable or lose their jobs. Shouldn’t it be John Lasseter who has to lose HIS job if the employees don’t want to give him a second chance?
Skydance has revealed that no women received settlements from Pixar or Disney as a result of being harassed by John Lasseter. But given all the abuse that’s been heaped on women who have come forward to make accusations against powerful men, do we really think that no settlements means that there was no harassment or no hostile work environment? Are we supposed to feel comforted that women who feel that their careers were derailed by working for Lasseter DIDN’T receive money?
I hope these queries make the level of my discomfort understandable. I regret having to step away because I love Alessandro so much and think he is an incredibly creative director. But I can only do what feels right during these difficult times of transition and collective consciousness raising.
I am well aware that centuries of entitlement to women’s bodies whether they like it or not is not going to change overnight. Or in a year. But I am also aware that if people who have spoken out — like me — do not take this sort of a stand then things are very unlikely to change at anything like the pace required to protect my daughter’s generation.
Yours most sincerely,
Emma Thompson
