Director Michael Bay has found himself in some legal troubles across the pond, as he’s been charged with the killing of a pigeon on the set of his 2019 Netflix movie 6 Underground.
The 57-year-old filmmaker is facing charges from an incident in 2018 when he was filming 6 Underground in Rome, and a pigeon was reportedly killed by a dolly, according to The Wrap.
The director – who was said to ‘butt heads’ with Eiza Gonzalez while filming his latest movie Ambulance – categorically denied the allegations.
Legal trouble: Director Michael Bay has found himself in some legal troubles across the pond, as he’s been charged with the killing of a pigeon on the set of his 2019 Netflix movie 6 Underground
Pigeon death: The 57-year-old filmmaker is facing charges from an incident in 2018 when he was filming 6 Underground in Rome, and a pigeon was reportedly killed by a dolly, according to The Wrap
‘I am a well-known animal lover and major animal activist,’ the director said in a statement.
‘No animal involved in the production was injured or harmed. Or on any other production I’ve worked on in the past 30 years,’ he added.
The report adds that Bay has been trying to, ‘clear the case with Italian authorities for years’ but has yet to do so.
Well-known: ‘I am a well-known animal lover and major animal activist,’ the director said in a statement
Can’t clear: The report adds that Bay has been trying to, ‘clear the case with Italian authorities for years’ but has yet to do so
Italian authorities have claimed that a homing pigeon was killed while the production was filming in Rome.
An insider also claims that the homing pigeon was killed by a dolly during the middle of a take.
An unnamed person on the set reportedly witnessed the incident and snapped a photo, which he sent to Italian authorities.
Filming: Italian authorities have claimed that a homing pigeon was killed while the production was filming in Rome
Pigeons are a protected species in Italy and there is a national law against killing, harming or capturing pigeons, or any other wild bird.
Regarding the photo that was sent to Italian authorities, Bay claims they have evidence that disputes the allegation.
‘We have clear video evidence, a multitude of witnesses, and safety officers that exonerates us from these claims. And disproves their one paparazzi photo — which gives a false story,’ Bay said.
Protected: Pigeons are a protected species in Italy and there is a national law against killing, harming or capturing pigeons, or any other wild bird
Michael disputes: Regarding the photo that was sent to Italian authorities, Bay claims they have evidence that disputes the allegation
The director added, ‘There is an ongoing court case so I cannot get into the specifics, but I am confident we will prevail when I have my day in court.’
Bay was given the option to settle the case and pay a small fine, but he reportedly refused and has since made three separate attempts to get the case thrown out.
‘I was offered by the Italian authorities a chance to settle this matter by paying a small fine, but I declined to do so because I would not plead guilty to having harmed an animal,’ Bay explained.
Confident: The director added, ‘There is an ongoing court case so I cannot get into the specifics, but I am confident we will prevail when I have my day in court’
