Pixar co-founder and Walt Disney Animation chief John Lasseter is the latest Hollywood figure caught up in sexual harassment allegations, the Daily Mail reports.

Unnamed sources accused Lasseter of “grabbing, kissing, making comments about physical attributes” with other staff members in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

The same day Lasseter, who is married with five children, sent a vaguely worked memo to staff in which announced he was going on a six-month sabbatical after “letting them down” with “unwanted hugs” and “gestures”. 

Multiple sources who did not want to be named for fear of damaging their careers told THR that Lasseter’s behaviour forced Parks and Recreation actress Rashida Jones and her writing partner Will McCormack to flee production of Toy Story 4, which they were due to co-write together.

Pixar, however, told THR that she left due to “creative differences” and neither Jones nor McCormack returned calls for comment from THR.

However, the claims against Lasseter don’t end with the Jones allegations. 

Former Pixar staff and animation industry insiders told the site that Lasseter - who is known for hugging people in the industry - also groped and harassed women.

He was known to drink heavily at industry functions, but his behaviour also took place outside that, insiders said.

One source said that 15 years ago he spotted Lasseter with a woman at a meeting.

“She was bent over and [had her arm] across her thigh,” he said. “The best I can describe it is as a defensive posture... John had his hand on her knee, though, moving around.”

He said the woman told him afterward that “it was unfortunate for her to wear a skirt that day and if she didn’t have her hand on her own right leg, his hand would have travelled.” 

He also said that when he asked why two women had been cropped out of a photo with Lasseter he was told: “We had to crop it. Do you know where his hands were?”

One woman told THR: “You’d hug him and he’d whisper in your ear, a long time.

“He hugged and hugged and everyone’s looking at you. Just invading the space.”

It got so bad that women routinely turned their heads away to avoid his kisses when he hugged them, and referred to a move designed to stop him touching their legs as “The Lasseter”. 

On Tuesday Lasseter said in a memo to staff that he’d had “difficult conversations” with unnamed parties that were “painful” to him.  

“It’s never easy to face your missteps, but it’s the only way to learn from them. As a result, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the leader I am today compared to the mentor, advocate and champion I want to be,” he wrote.

“It’s been brought to my attention that I have made some of you feel disrespected or uncomfortable. That was never my intent.

“I 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,” he wrote.

He said that he would therefore take six months out of the office “to take some time away to reflect on how to move forward from here.” 

He added: “My hope is that a six-month sabbatical will give me the opportunity to start taking better care of myself, to recharge and be inspired, and ultimately return with the insight and perspective I need to be the leader you deserve.”

A Disney spokesperson said the company is committed to maintaining a respectful work environment and fully supports Lasseter’s sabbatical.

Lasseter co-founded Pixar with Steve Jobs and went on to direct some of its most popular films, including Toy Story 1 and 2, the Cars films, and A Bug’s Life.

He has also produced every Pixar feature since Monsters, Inc, in 2001.

He has been the chief creative officer for Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios since 2006, overseeing hits like Frozen and Moana.

- Daily Mail