Disney
John Lasseter
(Reuters) - Walt Disney Co executive John Lasseter  who heads animation at both Disney and Pixar   told company staff on Tuesday  he  was taking a six-month leave of absence following what  he  called âmisstepsâ including unwanted hugs that made employees uncomfortable  according to a memo seen by Reuters.
FILE PHOTO:  John Lasseter   Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios  speaks during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit  Michigan  U.S. on January 8  2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
âItâs never easy to face your missteps  but itâs the only way to learn from them â  Lasseter  said in the memo  in which  he  apologized to employees who felt âdisrespected or uncomfortable.â
âI especially want to apologize to anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of an unwanted hug or any other gesture they felt crossed the line in any way  shape  or form â  he  added. âNo matter how benign my intent  everyone has the right to set their own boundaries and have them respected.â
A pioneer in computer animation   Lasseter  has been the driving creative force behind Disneyâs success in animated films over the past decade.  He  is an Oscar winner and chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Disney said in a statement that it appreciated  Lasseter âs âcandor and sincere apologyâ and supported  his  leave of absence.
 Lasseter  is the latest Hollywood figure to be accused of inappropriate behavior toward women since producer Harvey Weinstein was fired from his company in October after allegations of sexual assault and harassment. Weinstein has denied allegations of non-consensual sex.
News of Lasseterâs decision to take a leave of absence was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The industry publication also published a story on Tuesday that said some women at Disney had been made uncomfortable by physical contact initiated by  Lasseter .
Disney did not respond to a request for comment on allegations reported by The Hollywood Reporter.  Lasseter  did not respond to an e-mail requesting comment.
 Lasseter   60  joined the company in 2006 when Disney bought Pixar Animation Studios and named  him  chief creative officer of Disney Animation Studios.  He  has produced a number of commercially successful films and been praised as a modern-day Walt Disney.
Part of Pixarâs founding team in 1996   Lasseter  has overseen 11 movies that have won the Academy Award for best animated feature  including âUp â âFinding Nemoâ and âFrozen.â
Disney animation and Pixar films have sold roughly $14 billion worth of tickets worldwide since  Lasseter  joined Disney  according to a Reuters analysis of data from the Box Office Mojo website.
 Lasseter  directed the 1995 hit âToy Story â the first feature-length computer-animated film  which earned  him  an Oscar for special achievement  and has been credited with leading a resurgence of Disney Animation. The studio was revitalized with the 2013 musical âFrozenâ and 2016 Oscar winner âZootopia.â
In addition   Lasseter  has served as principal creative adviser to Walt Disney Imagineering  the division that develops theme park attractions.  He  was instrumental in the design of Cars Land  the centerpiece of a 2012 redesign of Disneyâs California Adventure park.
(Reuters) - Walt Disney Co executive John Lasseter  who heads animation at both Disney and Pixar   told company staff on Tuesday  he  was taking a six-month leave of absence following what  he  called âmisstepsâ including unwanted hugs that made employees uncomfortable  according to a memo seen by Reuters.
FILE PHOTO:   [TGT] speaks during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit  Michigan  U.S. on January 8  2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
âItâs never easy to face your missteps  but itâs the only way to learn from them â   [TGT] said in the memo  in which   [TGT]   apologized to employees who felt âdisrespected or uncomfortable.â
âI especially want to apologize to anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of an unwanted hug or any other gesture they felt crossed the line in any way  shape  or form â   [TGT]   added. âNo matter how benign my intent  everyone has the right to set their own boundaries and have them respected.â
A pioneer in computer animation    [TGT] has been the driving creative force behind Disneyâs success in animated films over the past decade.  He  is an Oscar winner and chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Disney said in a statement that it appreciated   [TGT]  âs âcandor and sincere apologyâ and supported  his  leave of absence.
  [TGT] is the latest Hollywood figure to be accused of inappropriate behavior toward women since producer Harvey Weinstein was fired from his company in October after allegations of sexual assault and harassment. Weinstein has denied allegations of non-consensual sex.
News of Lasseterâs decision to take a leave of absence was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The industry publication also published a story on Tuesday that said some women at Disney had been made uncomfortable by physical contact initiated by  [TGT]  .
Disney did not respond to a request for comment on allegations reported by The Hollywood Reporter.   [TGT] did not respond to an e-mail requesting comment.
  [TGT] joined the company in 2006 when Disney bought Pixar Animation Studios and named   [TGT]   chief creative officer of Disney Animation Studios.   [TGT]   has produced a number of commercially successful films and been praised as a modern-day Walt Disney.
Part of Pixarâs founding team in 1996   Lasseter  has overseen 11 movies that have won the Academy Award for best animated feature  including âUp â âFinding Nemoâ and âFrozen.â
Disney animation and Pixar films have sold roughly $14 billion worth of tickets worldwide since   [TGT] joined Disney  according to a Reuters analysis of data from the Box Office Mojo website.
  [TGT] directed the 1995 hit âToy Story â the first feature-length computer-animated film  which earned   [TGT]   an Oscar for special achievement  and has been credited with leading a resurgence of Disney Animation. The studio was revitalized with the 2013 musical âFrozenâ and 2016 Oscar winner âZootopia.â
In addition    [TGT] has served as principal creative adviser to Walt Disney Imagineering  the division that develops theme park attractions.  He  was instrumental in the design of Cars Land  the centerpiece of a 2012 redesign of Disneyâs California Adventure park.