Bay Fights Off Attacker on Set of 'Transformers 4'
Director Michael Bay fought off an attacker Thursday who accosted him and several other crew members on the set of Transformers: Age of Extinction in Hong Kong.
In an official statement to ET, Paramount Pictures said the incident occurred Thursday during the first day of production in Hong Kong after several months of filming in Arizona, Utah, Texas, Michigan, Illinois and Washington state.
"Contrary to several erroneous news reports made today, Bay did not get hurt in a fight on set. The production company did have a bizarre encounter with a man (allegedly under the influence of a narcotic substance) who was wielding an air conditioning unit as a weapon," the statement said.
"The man, who had earlier accosted several other crew members, rushed onto the set in Quarry Bay and swung the air conditioning unit directly at Bay's head. The director ducked and wrested the air conditioner from his attacker, preventing what could have been a serious accident," the statement added. The studio said a security team "quickly stepped in and subdued" the assault. Police officers -- who also scuffled with the assailant and two of his companions -- ultimately arrested the three men. No one on the cast or crew was injured and the production immediately resumed filming without further incident.
Reuters earlier quoted a police spokeswoman in Hong Kong as saying that two men had approached Bay on set and demanded payment of about $13,000, before one of them then walked up and assaulted the director.
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