Entertainment

Disney producer allegedly talked about his erections at work

Disney’s Broadway boss works on G-rated productions — but creates an X-rated workplace, colleagues claim in a new report.

In an article published a day before his stage adaptation of “Frozen” opens in previews on the Great White Way, the Wall Street Journal reports that Disney Theatrical Productions president and producer Thomas Schumacher has a history of sexual harassment and making incredibly inappropriate remarks to co-workers.

While previously working for the House of Mouse’s animation arm — where he was involved with “The Lion King” and “Pocahontas” — Schumacher allegedly made “salacious and inappropriate” remarks to a subordinate named Bruce Williams, including telling him he had a nice butt, the Journal reports.

When Williams complained, he says bosses told him, “We’ve spoken to Tom and he apologizes” — but then separated the two men by transferring Williams off to a “gulag” department.





Since taking the helm of the company’s theatrical productions, Schumacher’s behavior has only gotten worse, workmates tell the paper.

One of his assistants had to quit — with severance and a nondisclosure agreement — after she brought her biracial son into the office, and Schumacher made wisecracks about black men’s sexual prowess.

He’s also talked about porn and his erections — and once bragged about having a “naked tanning” session with Josh Strickland, who performed in Disney’s stage version of “Tarzan,” colleagues told the Journal.

Another time, Schumacher got caught in the rain on the way to work — so he walked around in a bathrobe all day, telling employees he had nothing underneath, the paper reports.

In December, he was elected chairman of Tony Awards creator the Broadway League.





The 60-year-old denied all the allegations but “at times acknowledged using inappropriate language,” a “person close to him” told the Journal.

Disney said only that “complaints are thoroughly investigated and appropriate action is taken.”

Meanwhile, Strickland said he did go tanning with Schumacher, but that there was no nudity and he never felt uncomfortable.

Schumacher isn’t the first Disney honcho facing sexual harassment allegations: Pixar boss John Lasseter had to go on leave last year after he was accused of grabbing, kissing and “making comments about physical attributes” of female employees.





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