Michael Bay Clears Up Thoughts on Kate Beckinsale: 'I Truly Respect Her'

Michael Bay is responding to Kate Beckinsale‘s story about when he cast her for Pearl Harbor back in 2001.

The 51-year-old director took to his website to explain that things got misconstrued in the press, and that he respects her a lot.

Kate had told a story on The Graham Norton Show about how he suggested she get a personal trainer.

“Really? This poster has hung proudly over my desk for 15 years,” Michael wrote alongside a poster of Kate. “Yesterday I read in the press that I don’t think Kate Beckinsale is ‘a stunning beauty,’ huh? And they went on to suggest that Kate and I don’t like each other?”

He continued, “Well, totally untrue. Kate and I are friendly. She is a fantastic actress, very funny, witty lady, sassy, speaks her mind, and I truly respect her…So I guess I was the ‘bad guy’ 16 years ago for suggesting a trainer because she just had her new beautiful baby girl�”and she was about to enter into an intensive action movie. Note to reporters: 95 % of leads in movies have trainers and drink green juice!”