Pixar employees have accused their parent company Disney of cutting gay characters from their films, in the latest salvo fired by staff amid a row about the entertainment giant's stance on gay rights.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek, who only took over in January, has been criticized for not condemning a Florida bill passed on Tuesday limiting LGBTQ discussion in schools.

In a memo to staff on Monday, Chapek tried to quell the anger, writing: 'I want to be crystal clear: I and the entire leadership team unequivocally stand in support of our LGBTQ+ employees, their families, and their communities. And, we are committed to creating a more inclusive company - and world.'

On Wednesday, he said he had called Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis, to express concern about the legislation becoming law, and didn't publicly oppose the bill because it was 'more effective' to do things behind the scenes.

Yet on Thursday, Pixar staff questioned the company's claims in a letter obtained by Variety.

'We at Pixar have personally witnessed beautiful stories, full of diverse characters, come back from Disney corporate reviews shaved down to crumbs of what they once were,' the letter states. 

'Even if creating LGBTQIA+ content was the answer to fixing the discriminatory legislation in the world, we are being barred from creating it.' 

The letter claims that 'nearly every moment of overtly gay affection' had been cut, despite 'protest from both the creative teams and executive leadership.' 

The Pixar staff also demanded that Disney withdraw financial support of all legislatures who supported the 'Don't Say Gay' bill and that Disney 'take a decisive public stand' against the legislation and bills like it elsewhere in the country.