«Breaking News» Emma Thompson discusses exit from Luck over John Lasseter hiring

Emma Thompson has addressed her decision to leave animated film Luck in an open letter to production company Skydance, after they hired John Lasseter to oversee it.

The actress, 59, hit out at the choice to bring the ex-Pixar head on board, after allegations of inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment were made against the animator, 62, in November 2017.

In a letter published by The LA Times on Tuesday, Emma expressed her 'discomfort' over Lasseter's hiring, as she explained: '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.'

Candid: Emma Thompson discussed her exit from film Luck in an open letter on Tuesday, and expressed her 'discomfort' over working with John Lasseter after sexual harassment scandal

Adding that she knew the situation was 'complicated', the Love Actually star posed several questions to Skydance, as she asked how female employees were expected to feel knowing his improved workplace behaviour was 'an act that he’s required to perform by his coach, his therapist and his employment agreement.'

And Emma added that, while some people might think that Lasseter should be given a second chance, it was important to acknowledge that 'he is presumably being paid millions of dollars to receive that second chance.'

The actress also went on to say that Skydance employees have few options if they don't want to work with the filmmaker, as they would either have to 'stay and be uncomfortable or lose their jobs.'

Blasting: The actress hit out at the choice to bring Lasseter on board, and questioned how female employees were supposed to feel knowing his behaviour was 'an act'

And while the actress admitted that she regretted leaving the project when she loved director Alessandro Carloni, she continued: 'I can only do what feels right during these difficult times of transition and collective consciousness raising.' 

In a powerful message of her hope for the future, Emma concluded: 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.'

Emma Thompson's letter in full 

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

Lasseter took a break from the entertainment industry for a year after he stepped down from his job at Pixar amid the sexual harassment workplace scandal.

Published in Variety, Skydance CEO David Ellison defended the decision to hire Lasseter following the sexual harassment accusations in a letter to employees.

He said in a statement at the time: 'I know many of you are aware of John’s admitted mistakes in his prior role helming those studios.

'John has been forthright in taking ownership of his behaviour, apologised for his actions and has spent the past year on sabbatical analysing and improving his workplace behaviour.

'We employed outside counsel to thoroughly investigate the allegations, which we considered serious and have warranted our full attention as we made this important decision.

'The senior leadership team and I have all carefully evaluated the findings of this extensive investigation. Let me be clear: we have not entered into this decision lightly.' (sic) 

Directed by Alessandro Carloni and set for release in 2021, Luck delves into a world about two opposing forces that control destiny and bad luck. 

Empowering: In a powerful message of her hope for the future, Emma concluded that she needed to 'take this sort of stand' to 'protect my daughter’s generation'

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2019/02/27/emma-thompson-discusses-exit-from-luck-over-john-lasseter-hiring/
Main photo article Emma Thompson has addressed her decision to leave animated film Luck in an open letter to production company Skydance, after they hired John Lasseter to oversee it.
The actress, 59, hit out at the choice to bring the ex-Pixar head on board, after allegations of inappropriate behaviour and sexual ...

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