Emma Thompson's letter on leaving film over John Lasseter says she did 'what feels right'

By Michael Rothman

Emma Thompson is speaking out in length Tuesday via a powerful letter she penned on why she left the cast of the upcoming animated film "Luck."

Thompson had been part of the voice-over cast for the Skydance Animation film, which is in production, until the studio hired John Lasseter, the former head of Disney Animation, as their new head. Her departure was revealed earlier this month.

In her letter, which was sent to the studio and given to the LA Times, Thompson writes, "It feels very odd to me that you and your company would consider hiring someone with Mr. Lasseter’s pattern of misconduct given the present climate in which people with the kind of power that you have can reasonably be expected to step up to the plate."

Months before John Lasseter was hired at Skydance, he exited Pixar after allegations of inappropriate behavior. He admitted to inappropriate hugging & “other missteps.”

Many in & outside the company, including Thompson, were shocked & unhappy by the hire. https://t.co/09Swbo6div pic.twitter.com/k6hIYvZ6W1

— LAT Entertainment (@latimesent) February 26, 2019

In 2017, after several women accused Lasseter of unwanted advances and touching, he released a statement, which read, "It's never easy to face your missteps, but it's the only way to learn from them. As a result, I've been giving a lot of thought to the leader I am today compared to the mentor, advocate and champion I want to be."

Lasseter then took a 6-month leave of absence and later parted ways with Pixar and Disney in 2018.

In her letter to the studio, the newly-appointed Dame Thompson asked a few questions of Skydance regarding the hire of Lasseter.

"If a man has made women at his companies feel undervalued and disrespected for decades, why should the women at his new company think that any respect he shows them is anything other than an act that he's required to perform by his coach, his therapist and his employment agreement?" she asked.

She continued, "Much has been said about giving John Lasseter a 'second chance.' But he is presumably being paid millions of dollars to receive that second chance. How much money are the employees at Skydance being paid to GIVE him that second chance?"

Thompson explained that her questions aimed at the company were only posed to explain her discomfort with the hiring of a man facing such allegations.

She says she regrets having to step away from the film, but, "I can only do what feels right during these difficult times of transition and collective consciousness raising."

British actress and all-round hero #EmmaThompson accepts her damehood from #PrinceWilliam wearing a @fawcettsociety equal pay badge, trainers and a teal trouser suit ???????????? (?? @pa) pic.twitter.com/IABvdHUpA0

— Alison Coldridge (@AlisonColdridge) November 7, 2018

"I am well aware that centuries of entitlement to women’s bodies whether they like it or not is not going to change overnight. Or in a year. But I am also aware that if people who have spoken out -- like me -- do not take this sort of a stand then things are very unlikely to change at anything like the pace required to protect my daughter’s generation," she closed.

A request for comment from Skydance Animation about the letter was not immediately returned to ABC News.

This isn't the first time the acclaimed actress has spoken out about gender equality. This past November, she received her damehood at Buckingham Palace and wore an equal pay pin to show her support for the cause.