Paramount and Michael Bay issue statements regarding the Air Conditioning/Zombie attack on the Hong Kong set of Transformers: Age of Extinction

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

An incident took place today on the Hong Kong set of TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION that has resulted in quite a bit of rumor and miscommunication in the media. The story started as the headline that Michael Bay was beat up while filming the movie. That was later clarified to reflect an "incident" had occurred but that Bay was not injured and the situation is under control. What we do know is that filming was briefly interrupted but has since gone back to normal.

We here at JoBlo.com would rather inform you of the actual news based on the statements from those in the know. If more information comes to light, we will definitely let you know. Paramount issued the following statement about what happened:

“Contrary to several erroneous news reports made today, Bay did not get hurt in a fight on set,” said Paramount. “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 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 company’s security team quickly stepped in and subdued the assault. The police, 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.”

And Bay issued his own response that is not quite as politically correct:

Yes, the story is being passed around is not all true! Yes, some drugged up guys were being belligerent asses to my crew for hours in the morning of our first shoot day in Hong Kong. One guy rolled metal carts into some of my actors trying to shake us down for thousands of dollars to not play his loud music or hit us with bricks.

Every vendor where we shot got paid a fair price for our inconvenience, but he wanted four times that amount. I personally told this man and his friends to forget it we were not going to let him extort us. He didn’t like that answer. So an hour later he came by my crew as we were shooting, carrying a long air conditioner unit. He walked right up to me and tried to smack my face, but I ducked threw the air unit on the floor and pushed him away. That’s when the security jumped on him. But it took seven big guys to subdue him. It was like a Zombie in Brad Pitt’s movie World War Z—he lifted seven guys up and tried to bite them. He actually bit into one of the guards Nike shoe, insane. Thank god it was an Air Max, the bubble popped, but the toe was saved.

Then it took fifteen Hong Kong cops in riot gear to deal with these punks. In all, four guys were arrested for assaulting the officers.

After that, we had a great day shooting here in Hong Kong.

While Bay may have his detractors, no one should wish actual physical harm on the man. I am sure incidents like this happen to film crews around the world all the time. When you are shooting your movie in countries outside of your own, you are bound to encounter some people who are not as friendly as others. I would like to think most are civilized to visitors and patrons of their businesses, but there are assholes everywhere in the world.

TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION starring Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Kelsey Grammer, T. J. Miller, Sophia Myles, Li Bingbing, Stanley Tucci, Han Geng, and Titus Welliver opens June 27, 2014.