It seems like these days, nothing is sacred – especially in Hollywood. Yesterday, Chief Creative Officer of both Pixar and Disney Animations Studios John Lasseter issued an apologetic letter to his staff in which he admits to giving ‘unwanted hugs’ and crossing the line in his conduct with them. He is consequently taking a six-month leave of absence.

“I’ve recently had a number of difficult conversations that have been very painful for me. It’s never easy to face your missteps, but it’s the only way to learn from them,” he writes in the memo. “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.”

It’s the most recent admission in a string of sexual harassment and misconduct allegations against Hollywood’s most powerful men in what’s been dubbed ‘the Weinstein ripple effect’.

As the co-founder of Pixar, the animator and filmmaker is the creative mastermind behind many adored children films of the past three decades – including Toy Story, Wall-E and Disney’s Oscar-winning Frozen – the highest-grossing animated film of all time.

Almost a dozen current and former Pixar employees have disclosed to Variety that for women, it’s a “toxic” and “sexist” workplace, and that Lasseter often behaves inappropriately, especially when he’s been drinking.

One former employee said the married father of five often, “[Spoke in the way] a lover would talk to you. I remember him touching my back or leg or knee and just feeling . . . ugh.”

Dubbed the genius behind the 21st century animation renaissance, the animation guru is known for his Hawaiian shirts and exuberant, childlike personality. Arguably the most influential animator since Walt Disney himself, the sixty-year-old is responsible for reviving Disney’s creative mojo after the company bought Pixar in 2006. Lasseter began to split his time between the two, and became chief creative officer at both companies.

In his letter, Lasseter importantly noted, “No matter how benign my intent, everyone has the right to set their own boundaries and have them respected.”

Although it was rumoured that actress and producer Rashida Jones recently left Pixar and her work on Toy Story 4 because of “unwanted advances”, Jones released a statement disputing this and clarifying, “We parted ways because of creative and, more importantly, philosophical differences.”

“There is so much talent at Pixar… however it is also a culture where women and people of colour do not have an equal creative voice,” she said.

Disney has issued a statement saying they are in full support of Lasseter’s sabbatical.