Their remit is to profile those who break the rules, but word is coming out of an incident on the Criminal Minds set that has lead to a suspension of one cast member while it is investigated…
We usually leave the more scandal-driven tittle-tattle to lesser sites, but news is spreading through industry sites that Criminal Minds stalwart Thomas Gibson (who has played Aaron Hotchner in the long-running profiling show since the first episode) has been suspended from the television show after an on-set ‘altercation’ involving a writer/producer on the series.The suspension, while the incident is further investigated, will likely be for one or two episodes – Episode 3 of the next run, currently being lensed being one of them – depending on a further review of the incident. Plans for Gibson to direct further episodes (he has directed six to date) also appear to be in flux.
Though few confirmed facts are known, Deadline says that the incident is believed to have involved the actor kicking co-executive producer Virgil Williams and might not be the first time the actor has had an altercation on the CBS show – reports saying that several years ago a similar incident occurred.
In a statement to Deadline and other outlets, Gibson gave a brief comment on what happened:
“There were creative differences on the set and a disagreement. I regret that it occurred. We all want to work together as a team to make the best show possible. We always have and we always will.”
Before playing the popular (but dour and rarely-smiling) Hotchner on Criminal Minds which debuted in 2005, Gibson first made his name as Doctor Daniel Nyland on four seasons of Chicago Hope (1994-1998) and then in a much lighter arena, the comedy show Dharma and Greg (1997-2002). He has also provided the voice of Deathstroke in 2014’s animated Son of Batman.
