6 Underground director Michael Bay in trouble with Italian authorities over pigeon killing

American director Michael Bay has been charged by Italian Authorities for killing a pigeon on the sets of the Netflix hit film, 6 Underground while it was being shot in Rome in 2018. The case has been ongoing since 2019, when a photograph showing a pigeon being killed on the sets was anonymously submitted to the authorities. For the record, pigeons are a protected species in Italy, and any killing of a bird, albeit accidentally, is an offence.

Bay has a team of lawyers representing him, but despite three hearings, the charges are still being pressed. He himself has released a statement that says that he is an animal lover and a major animal activist.

He categorically denies ever having harmed any wildlife and stated clearly that he has never harmed any animal during his work life that spans three decades.

So, what is going to be the outcome of this incident? The homing pigeon was reportedly killed by a dolly on the sets of the film. The national law in Italy forbids the killing, capturing or harming of any wild bird. Apparently, Bay was given a way out – to settle the case by paying a small fine, but since the director said he was innocent, he would have none of it and instead decided to fight it out legally.