Former Pixar graphic designer Cassandra Smolcic wrote an oped in Variety that detailed the ‘lecherous’ work environment
A former graphic designer for Pixar has revealed how the company, led by co-founder John Lasseter, was a mecca for ‘open sexism’ with those in power acting as ‘frat boys.’
Cassandra Smolcic worked for Pixar for five years between 2009 and 2014 and said that the sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior at the company pushed her to leave what she said was her ‘dream job’.
In a column for Variety, Smolcic detailed how Lasseter gave her and other women ‘lecherious up-and -down looks (or unwanted hugs and touches) almost every time we crossed his path on campus.’
Allegations against Lasseter first surfaced in November, prompting the executive to take a six-month sabbatical. Disney announced earlier this month that he would leave the company at the end of the year.
However, Smolcic’s op-ed also explains how the harassment went far beyond Lasseter.
John Lasseter, 61, the co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios will step down at the end of the year after acknowledging ‘missteps’ in his behavior with staff members
During her five year employment she wrote that she and other female employees experienced sexual harassment by John Lasseter and other male employees
‘Lasseter’s open sexism set the tone from the top, emboldening others to act like frat boys in just about any campus setting,’ she wrote.
She said she experienced sexual harassment over her five years from Lasseter, an unnamed department head and other male coworkers.
‘Just after starting on Cars 2, I was told by a superior that I would be uninvited from all our weekly art department meetings because Lasseter “has a hard time controlling himself” around young women,’ she wrote. ‘I was crushed to have my participation in the filmmaking process –– and subsequently my career trajectory –– thwarted simply because I was female.’
Smolcic said that the institution has worked hard to protect their executives and subsequently perpetuate their behavior.
She wrote: ‘Management teams across the studio were well known for cleaning up the messes of powerful male superiors, regardless of their poor behavior or challenging leadership styles.
‘Meanwhile, the company’s few female leads lacked backing and basic respect from the institution and the masses.
‘Female leads were often caught in no-win situations, forced to either suppress their abilities –– in order to make men feel more comfortable –– or take charge and risking being labeled “difficult” or “unlikable.”’
Smolcic left the company at age 30 after being ‘physically and mentally burnt out after years of bumping up against the glass ceiling’.
He took a six-month leave in November following the allegations in the wake of the #MeToo movement
Disney announced earlier this month that Lasseter, 61, – one of the most illustrious and powerful figures in animation – will step down at the end of the year after acknowledging ‘missteps’ in his behavior with staff members. .
He apologized ‘to anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of an unwanted hug’ or any other gesture that made them feel ‘disrespected or uncomfortable.’
In her column Smolcic praised Pixar’s decision to replace Lasseter with Jennifer Lee and Pete Docter as chief creative officers at Disney Animation and Pixar.
She said the replacement ‘provides hope for meaningful change moving forward.’
However she said: ‘Dismantling John’s legacy will take more than just replacing a single executive, because such deeply ingrained biases require deliberate, conscientious effort to identify and dismantle.’