Jeff Bezos has been called out for making a serious social faux pas.
On Wednesday, William Shatner — who is best known for playing the seminal role of Captain Kirk in the 1966 Star Trek series — fulfilled a lifelong dream after being blasted into space by Bezos' aerospace company, Blue Origin. It was a truly historical moment, as the trip resulted in Shatner becoming the oldest person ever to reach space.
But shortly after touchdown, things got pretty awkward, as Bezos failed to "read the room" and appeared to steal the spotlight for himself.
Watch the awkward moment unfold below...After the capsule landed in Texas, Bezos opened the doors to check how everyone was. A clearly overwhelmed Shatner simply said "it's fun" before speaking about what an "unbelievable" experience it was.
"Everybody in the world needs to do this – it was unbelievable," he told Bezos. "What you have given me is the most profound experience. I’m so filled with emotion about what just happened. I hope I never recover from this. I hope I can retain what I feel now. I don’t want to lose it."
As Shatner continued to grow emotional, Bezos cut the actor off and calls for some champagne.
The Canadian actor, understandably, looked a little confused and turned down a glass of bubbly as the billionaire proceeded to spray it over everybody else around them.
Naturally, the people of the internet found the whole exchange both hilarious and rather heartbreaking.
One social media wrote: "Wow, this is awkward. William Shatner trying to describe his experience, trying to find the right words. Bezos turns away: 'WHERE'S THE CHAMPAIGN, WOOOOO!'"
Another corroborated: "Massively awkward moment there, as Shatner starts telling Bezos about how profound space was, but all Bezos wants to do is open some champagne. #BlueOrigin."
"Bezos didn’t seem particularly interested in listening to Shatner’s profound words; he seemed more concerned about popping the champagne. He even walked away at one point when Bill was in full flow. Quite staggering and really awkward!" a third said.
Others agreed that Bezos didn't seem very interested in Shatner's experience, writing: "Just watched William Shatner launch into space and land. When he came out it was so awkward because he didn't want to partake in the champagne shower celebration. He wanted to talk. Jeff Bezos looks like he wants to get away from him as he talks and talks..."
Another added: "There is a very sad moment in the Blue Origin livestream in which William Shatner is describing his experience in space to Jeff Bezos. He's talking in the manner of an old man, and suddenly realizes Bezos has turned completely away to high five people and call for champagne."
So awkward. Honestly, this is like a scene from The Office.