Megan Fox Didn’t Share #MeToo Story for This Tragic Reason
Years after her very public feud with director Michael Bay, Megan Fox is opening up about why she isn't sharing her #MeToo stories publicly.
The Transformers actress told The New York Times she has "quite a few stories" to contribute to the movement, but said she wouldn't be interested in sharing them after her experience speaking out against Bay nearly a decade ago. After Fox, 32, was accused of overreacting, being "dumb as a rock" and being an "unfriendly b----" in an anonymous open letter, she says she was put off by the #MeToo movement.
"I was ahead of my time and so people weren't able to understand. Instead, I was rejected because if qualities that are now being praised in other woman coming forward," she said. "I just didn't think based on how I'd been received by people, and by feminists, that I would be a sympathetic victim."
She continued, "I thought if ever there were a time where the world would agree that it's appropriate to victim-shame someone, it would be when I come forward with my story."
Fox said having her words "taken and used against me" was "really painful."
The allegations made by Fox surfaced almost 10 years ago. She claimed, at the time, that Bay's direction to her on the Transformers set was limited to "Be hot" and "Just be sexy." She also alleged that he forced her to "audition" for the role by having her wash his Ferrari while he filmed her.
Fox said Bay's direction style was similar to that of "a dictator," comparing him to Napoleon or Hitler. Bay apologized, but maintained that Fox was looking "to get a response."
"I know that's just Megan. Meghan loves to get a response. And she does it in kind of the wrong way. I'm sorry, Megan. I'm sorry I made you work 12 hours. I'm sorry that I'm making you show up on time. Movies are not always warm and fuzzy," he said.
The pair squashed their beef, reuniting to work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but it appears some tension may still be lingering.