Last November, during the rise of the #MeToo movement, The Hollywood Reporter alleged that Rashida Jones, and her writing partner Will McCormack, had left “Toy Story 4” because she had experienced unwanted advances by John Lasseter. Jones and McCormack, we reported, later responded to those allegations stating that it was the overall climate where there was a lack of diverse storytelling voices that lead to the duo’s departure from Pixar.
READ MORE: Rashida Jones Responds To John Lasseter Allegations
In a recent interview with Net-A-Porter, Jones stated that she felt she needed to hold herself accountable, implying that she could not stay with a company that lacked diversity.
“That situation was complicated,” she said. “You look at [Pixar’s] track record and it was one woman directing one film in 25 years, and she was fired. But that does not look different from most studios in Hollywood. All I can be is myself, and speak up and be honest when I feel things do not reflect the world as it is today. As a corporation, you will be held accountable.”
Jones is, of course, referring to director Brenda Chapman. Chapman was the creative force behind the movie “Brave” for years before getting replaced by Mark Andrews due to creative differences.
“We parted ways because of creative and, more importantly, philosophical differences,” Jones and McCormack’s statement last November read. “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.”
A woman of color quitted a company to atack its lack of diversity? Seems counterproductive, doesn’t it?