CES 2014: Michael Bay Walks Off Stage At Samsung News Conference After Teleprompter ‘Got Lost’

“Transformers” director Michael Bay left the stage abruptly after a teleprompter appeared to malfunction during Samsung's news conference at the Consumer Electronics Show, or CES 2014, in Las Vegas.

The 48-year-old director was the featured speaker for Samsung and was present at the event on Monday to talk about the company’s ultra-high definition curved TVs. According to reports, audiences were to be shown exclusive footage of “Transformers: Age of Extinction” releasing in late June. But due to a sudden malfunction in the teleprompter, Bay was left at a loss for words.

He apologized and walked off leaving Joe Stinziano, Samsung Electronics America's executive vice president, alone on stage and a large audience, including members of the media, surprised and shocked.

After the event, Bay took to his website where he wrote:

“Wow! I just embarrassed myself at CES – I was about to speak for Samsung for this awesome Curved 105-inch UHD TV. I rarely lend my name to any products, but this one is just stellar. I got so excited to talk, that I skipped over the Exec VP’s into line and then the teleprompter got lost. Then the prompter went up and down – Then I walked off. I guess live shows aren’t my thing.”

Bay went on to add: “But I’m doing a special curved screen experience with Samsung and Transformers 4 footage that will be travelling around the world.”

The director's awkward appearance led to a host of comments on the Twittersphere.

“Wow, Michael Bay just walked offstage without saying anything. No prompter, no BAY. That’s the Michael Bay we keep hearing about. #CES2014” Variety writer David S. Cohen, who was in the audience, wrote on Twitter.

“apparently michael bay thought they could just fix it in post,” a Los Angeles-based writer tweeted.

Another Twitter user posted: “Wow, Michael Bay-next time, improv! Prepare! What if your actors showed up on set without reading/learning the script?”