Michael Bay insists he "truly respects" Kate Beckinsale.
The 51-year-old filmmaker has come under fire after the 42-year-old actress recently revealed he advised her to lose weight to star as Nurse Lt. Evelyn Johnson in his 2001 drama Pearl Harbor, but he has now spoken out to defend himself, insisting Kate's "funny story" has been taken out of context and he never had a problem with her body.
He wrote on his website: "Kate and I are friendly. She is a fantastic actress, very funny, witty lady, sassy, speaks her mind, and I truly respect her. That's why she has come to so many of my Christmas parties and Birthday parties.
"This so called 'problem of us not liking each other' was reported by a tabloid-esque reporter after Kate appeared on an edgy English talk show, speaking about our meeting 16 years ago while casting Pearl Harbor.