‘Armageddon’ Director Michael Bay Facing Charges In Italy — He Says He Didn’t Do It

Virginia KrutaJanuary 12, 2023

Producer and director of blockbuster movies Michael Bay is facing charges in Italy after he allegedly killed a pigeon while filming in Rome — but the “Armageddon” Director claims he didn’t do anything of the kind.

According to a Report The Wrap published Thursday’s statement by Italian authorities that a homing Pigeon was killed at the set. Bay He was filming Netflix’s action thriller “6 Underground” in 2018 – and they are attempting to hold Bay responsible.

Exclusive: Michael Bay faces charges in Italy for killing a pigeon while filming the Netflix blockbuster 2018. “6 Underground” https://t.co/tDiJ0bpaYL

— TheWrap (@TheWrap) January 12, 2023

Bay said to The Wrap that no animal would ever be hurt. “I am a well-known animal lover and major animal activist. No animal involved in the production was injured or harmed. Or on any other production I’ve worked on in the past 30 years.”

Italian authorities claim that they have photographic proof that the homing pigeon was killed after being struck by a dolly on the set — and because Bay was the director in charge of the film set, they intend to hold him responsible for killing the bird. Bay stated that the video evidence from his team would show the opposite.

“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 stated that he believed he would prevail after all evidence had been presented in court.

Bay’s attorneys have attempted to get the case thrown out, but the Italian authorities have only offered him a chance to pay a fine to settle the matter. Bay declined their offer and said that he couldn’t accept a plea agreement that required him to admit that he had hurt an animal.

“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,” He stated.

Italian law prohibits the killing, capturing, or harming of any wild birds – and pigeons are considered to be a protected species both in Italy and all across the European Union.