Rashida Jones

Photo via @rashidajones/Instagram

Rashida Jones left Pixar because of the company’s culture, not John Lasseter

Jones said she quit working on 'Toy Story 4' because of Pixar's treatment of women and people of color.

 

Tess Cagle

IRL

Posted on Nov 22, 2017   Updated on May 22, 2021, 10:21 am CDT

Rashida Jones cut ties with Pixar because of its mistreatment of women and people of color—not because of unwanted advances by Pixar co-founder John Lasseter—according to a statement published in the New York Times.

The statement addressed claims published in the Hollywood Reporter, which reported that sources told the publication Jones and her writing partner Will McCormack quit working on Toy Story 4 because Lasseter made an unwanted advance.

“The breakneck speed at which journalists have been naming the next perpetrator renders some reporting irresponsible,” they said. “There is so much talent at Pixar, and we remain enormous fans of their films. However, it is also a culture where women and people of color do not have an equal creative voice.”

Supporters on Twitter applauded the writers for speaking the truth and calling out false reporting.

Jones and McCormack pointed out that out of the 20 films produced by Pixar to date, “only one was co-directed by a woman and only one was directed by a person of color.” The duo concluded the statement by encouraging Pixar to do better.

“We encourage Pixar to be leaders in bolstering, hiring and promoting more diverse and female storytellers and leaders,” they said. “We hope we can encourage all those who have felt like their voices could not be heard in the past to feel empowered.”

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*First Published: Nov 22, 2017, 11:15 am CST