As rumors, accusations and all around bad blood flew following the critical failure (though commercial mega-success) of "Transformers 2," one thing was made clear: star Megan Fox would not be back. The why, though, was very unclear.
For her part, Fox said that she quit. Which didn't quite jibe with the sentiment of the film's angry letter-writing crew, or director Michael Bay. And while what went down has remained an untold secret up through now, the film's star, Shia LeBeouf, always one to speak frankly -- he himself ripped the second movie -- has finally shined a light on the situation.
"Megan developed this Spice Girl strength, this woman-empowerment [stuff] that made her feel awkward about her involvement with Michael, who some people think is a very lascivious filmmaker, the way he films women," LaBeouf told the Los Angeles Times. "Mike films women in a way that appeals to a 16-year-old sexuality. It's summer. It's Michael's style. And I think [Fox] never got comfortable with it. This is a girl who was taken from complete obscurity and placed in a sex-driven role in front of the whole world and told she was the sexiest woman in America. And she had a hard time accepting it. When Mike would ask her to do specific things, there was no time for fluffy talk. We're on the run. And the one thing Mike lacks is tact. There's no time for [LaBeouf assumes a gentle voice] 'I would like you to just arch your back 70 degrees.'"
It's a bit of a strange reason, given Fox's propensity for risque modeling, but so it goes.
Of course, Bay being a man of plentiful resources, went out and got just that type of actress, hiring Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to play LeBeouf's new love interest.
As for Fox's take? Back in 2009, she ripped on Bay's directorial style, words that led to the angry letter from the "Transformers" crew.
"He's like Napoleon and he wants to create this insane, infamous mad-man reputation. He wants to be like Hitler on his sets, and he is," Fox said. "So he's a nightmare to work for but when you get him away from set, and he's not in director mode, I kind of really enjoy his personality because he's so awkward, so hopelessly awkward. He has no social skills at all. And it's endearing to watch him."
Now, Fox will be watching from a theater seat.
For more on the movie, click over to the Los Angeles Times.