Michael Bay has been accused of killing a pigeon on the set of his Netflix movie 6 Underground while filming in Italy… but the director denies the charges
Director Michael Bay ran into some legal troubles across the pond when he was accused of killing a pigeon on the set of his 2019 Netflix film 6 Underground.
The 57-year-old filmmaker is being charged over an incident in 2018 while filming 6 Underground in Rome where a pigeon was reportedly killed by a dolly, according to The Wrap.
The director, who is said to have clashed with Eiza Gonzalez while filming his latest film Ambulance, categorically denied the allegations.
Legal troubles: Director Michael Bay found himself on the other side of the pond in some legal troubles when he was accused of killing a pigeon on the set of his 2019 Netflix film 6 Underground
Pigeon death: The 57-year-old filmmaker is being charged over an incident in 2018 when he was filming 6 Underground in Rome and a pigeon was allegedly killed by a dolly, according to The Wrap
“I’m a well-known animal lover and a huge animal activist,” the director said in a statement.
“No animal involved in the production was injured or harmed. Or any other production I’ve worked on in the last 30 years,” he added.
The report adds that Bay has been “trying to resolve the case with Italian authorities for years” but has yet to do so.
Known: “I’m a well-known animal lover and huge animal activist,” the director said in a statement
Cannot be resolved: The report adds that Bay has been trying to “resolve the case with Italian authorities for years” but has yet to do so
Italian authorities have claimed a carrier pigeon was killed while the production was filmed in Rome.
An insider also claims that the carrier pigeon was killed by a dolly in the middle of a recording.
An unnamed person on set reportedly witnessed the incident and took a picture, which he sent to Italian authorities.
Filming: Italian authorities have claimed a carrier pigeon was killed while the production was filmed in Rome
Pigeons are a protected species in Italy and there is a national law against killing, harming or capturing pigeons or other wild birds.
Referring to the photo sent to Italian authorities, Bay claims they have evidence disproving the claim.
“We have clear video evidence, a multitude of witnesses and security officials that clear us of these claims. And refutes her only paparazzi photo — providing 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 other wild birds
Michael Denies: Regarding the photo sent to the Italian authorities, Bay claims they have evidence disproving the claim
The director added: “There is an ongoing court case so I can’t go into the specifics but I’m confident that when I have my day in court we will prevail.”
Bay was given an opportunity to settle the case and pay a small fine, but reportedly refused and has since made three separate attempts to have the case dropped.
“I was offered by the Italian authorities to settle this matter by paying a small fine, but I declined because I would not plead guilty to harming an animal,” Bay said.
Confident: The director added, “There’s an ongoing court case so I can’t go into the specifics, but I’m confident that when I have my day in court we will prevail.”