Director Michael Bay found himself in legal trouble across the pond as he was accused of murdering a pigeon on the set of his 2019 Netflix movie 6 Underground.
The 57-year-old filmmaker is facing charges for an incident in 2018 while filming 6 Underground in Rome, and a pigeon was allegedly killed by a cart, according to The Wrap.
The director – who is said to have “bumped heads” with Eiza Gonzalez while filming his latest film Ambulance – has flatly denied the allegations.
Legal troubles: Director Michael Bay found himself in legal trouble across the pond as he was accused of murdering a pigeon on the set of his 2019 Netflix movie 6 Underground
Death of a pigeon: The 57-year-old filmmaker is facing charges for an incident in 2018 while filming 6 Underground in Rome, and a pigeon was allegedly killed by a cart, according to The Wrap
“I am a well-known animal lover and major animal activist,” the director said in a statement.
“No animals involved in the production were harmed or harmed. Or any other production I’ve worked on for the past 30 years,” he added.
The report adds that Bay has been trying to “clean up the matter 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
Italian authorities claimed a carrier pigeon was killed while filming the production in Rome.
An insider also claims the carrier pigeon was killed by a cart in the middle of a catch.
An anonymous person on set reportedly witnessed the incident and took a photo, which he sent to Italian authorities.
Filming: Italian authorities claim a carrier pigeon was killed while filming the production in Rome
Pigeons are a protected species in Italy and there is a national law prohibiting killing, injuring or capturing pigeons or any other wild bird.
Regarding the photo that was sent to the Italian authorities, Bay claims to have evidence that disputes the allegation.
“We have clear video evidence, a multitude of witnesses and security officers who exonerate us from these allegations. And refutes their only paparazzi photo – giving a false story,” Bay said.
The manager added: ‘There is a court case going on so I can’t go into detail but I’m confident we’ll 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 have the case dismissed.
“The Italian authorities offered me a chance to settle this case by paying a small fine, but I refused to do so because I would not plead guilty to harming an animal,” Bay explained.
Confident: The manager added: ‘There’s a court case going on so I can’t go into detail but I’m confident we’ll prevail when I have my day in court’
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