* Public Statements: Fox made controversial statements about director Michael Bay, comparing him to Hitler and calling him a "nightmare to work with." These comments publicly strained their working relationship and created negative press around the franchise.
* Creative Differences: Reports emerged that there were creative differences between Fox and Bay regarding the direction of the character. Fox desired a more substantial role and a deeper exploration of Mikaela's character arc, while Bay allegedly wanted to focus more on the action and the robots.
* Shifting Focus: The story of *Transformers: Dark of the Moon* shifted its focus to Sam Witwicky and his new love interest, Carly Spencer, played by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. This narrative shift naturally led to Mikaela's diminished presence.
While Fox and Bay publicly disputed the reasons for her departure, the combination of her public statements, creative disagreements, and the shifting focus of the story ultimately led to Mikaela being written out of the franchise.