The four judges on Fox’s "The X Factor" got up and walked out on a recalcitrant singer during auditions in Missouri, UPI.com reports, citing a story in People magazine.

Demi Lovato, Britney Spears, L.A. Reid and Louis Walsh (subbing for an ailing Simon Cowell) were turned off by a singer who refused to face them while performing.

The incident occurred Saturday at the Kansas City auditions at the Sprint Center. An audience member who commented for the story said: "He was one of the worst singers and had a bad attitude. … [The judges] all hated it and walked off."

The contestant, who was not named in the report, continued to perform, apparently unaware that the judges had walked out.

Another audience member added: "It was really awkward."

After the singer departed, Lovato. Reid and Walsh returned, but Spears remained MIA until the second show’s taping.