Michael Bay bails on Samsung press conference at CES 2014 (video)

Samsung hoped to give the launch of its curved UHD TVs a boost with a CES 2014 appearance by Transformers and Armageddon director Michael Bay.

Unfortunately for the electronics company, the celebrity endorsement backfired big time when the blockbuster filmmaker fled the stage after a teleprompter snafu, causing a social-media stir. 

While many people are making fun of the director on Twitter...

#MichaelBay blowing up at #CES is the most critically acclaimed Michael Bay movie EVER!

— David Wild (@Wildaboutmusic) January 6, 2014

Michael Bay's next movie: "No Prompt, No Gain" [sponsored by #Samsung]

— Laurent (@charlierlaurent) January 6, 2014

I feel like such a dick laughing at #MichaelBay, but then I remember that it's Michael Bay.

— Blake Siefken (@BlakeSiefken) January 6, 2014

...others are coming to his defense.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually feel bad for Michael Bay.

— Rasmus Wedin (@Olqavtoras) January 6, 2014

It takes one Michael Bay video to turn game journos into elementary school children amused by someone having trouble with public speaking.

— Caleb (@DcalebX) January 6, 2014

Headline writers: that was not a "meltdown." Michael Bay didn't "storm off stage."

— Chris Ervin (@cpervin) January 6, 2014