Shia LaBeouf Says Megan Fox "Had A Hard Time Accepting" Her Sex Symbol Status In Transformers Franchise

Shia LaBeouf is opening up about why he believes Megan Fox didn't stick around for Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whitely replaced the brunette beauty in the summer action flick.

In a recent interview with the LA Times, Shia says:

“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. 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."

As for why her relationship with director Michael Bay didn't work, Shia adds:

"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.’”

Read what Shia had to say about Rosie joining the franchise ... after the jump.