John Lasseter stepped away from Disney/Pixar in 2017 after allegations of inappropriate workplace behavior, including “unwanted hugs” and conduct that made employees uncomfortable. He left Disney at the end of 2018 and later returned to animation through Apple’s animated film Luck in 2022, marking a comeback after his exit from Pixar/Disney.

What happened

  • In late 2017, Lasseter took a leave of absence after misconduct concerns surfaced publicly.
  • In 2018, Disney announced he would leave the company when his contract expired.
  • News coverage in 2022 described him as attempting a professional comeback with Apple TV+ after several years away from Disney/Pixar leadership.

Why it mattered

Lasseter was one of the key creative figures behind Pixar’s rise and Disney Animation’s turnaround, so his departure was a major shift for the animation industry. The story has remained a mix of career legacy and controversy, with many people still associating him both with Pixar’s success and with the misconduct allegations that ended his Disney tenure.

Current picture

As of the latest coverage found, the main “what happened” is: he was pushed out of Disney/Pixar after misconduct allegations, then tried to rebuild his career outside the company.