Last week, movie director and producer Michael Bay lost all composure at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) when the teleprompter and he got out of sync resulting in Bay suddenly walking off stage after only a single minute.
What makes this particularly embarrassing was that he was on stage to promote Samsung’s new curved HDTV, as a paid sponsor I’m sure. Losing your wits and leaving your meal ticket high and dry, though, is great content for social media, news and comedians alike (see Tina Fey mock Bay at the Golden Globes).
A simple Google News search results in nearly 41,000 results! Owning up to his blunder, Bay posted the following on his website later that day.
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 intro 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.
Why Bay’s meltdown is great for Samsung
While the story is certainly about a famous director from Hollywood who can’t hold his own in front of the cameras, Samsung’s new curved HDTV is also being carried on the back of the story. The old adage, “No press is bad press,” holds true. Especially since Samsung had no culpability.
Had the presentation proceeded as planned, Samsung’s curved TV would have made a few lists of new products and probably a couple of headlines. Now though, Samsung has earned a ton of earned media or free press.
PR disaster or accidental brilliance? Definitely accidental brilliance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tqRyzTvNKE&w=582&rel=0