Emma Thompson Explains Decision to Step Away From ‘Luck’ Movie Role in Powerful Letter

Earlier this month, it was reported that Emma Thompson stepped away from the animated movie Luck at Skydance over John Lasseter‘s involvement.

Now, Emma is confirming that the reports are true and she’s stepping away over Lasseter‘s previous allegations of sexual misconduct while working at Pixar before being hired by Skydance.

“If a man has been touching women inappropriately for decades, why would a woman want to work for him if the only reason he’s not touching them inappropriately now is that it says in his contract that he must behave ‘professionally’?” Emma wrote in a letter to Skydance management, which has been published by the LA Times.

She continued, “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? The message seems to be, ‘I am learning to feel respect for women so please be patient while I work on it. It’s not easy.'”

Emma added, “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.”

Posted To:Emma Thompson