Criminal Minds was one of the creepiest criminal procedurals in television history. That’s because the show was about more than just catching the bad guy: it was also about figuring out how he thinks. That means the show took us to some pretty dark places as it got us into the heads of TV’s creepiest fictional villains.
However, did you know that some of the people creating this fiction were pretty villainous in real life? Over the years, Criminal Minds has had some major scandals involving both the talent behind the camera and the lovable stars in front of the camera. And after learning about them, you may never be able to look at this show the same, ever again.
Just what kind of scandals are we talking about? Keep reading to learn everything you want to know!
Thomas Gibson was forced out of the show due to violence
One of the main stars of Criminal Minds (especially after Mandy Patinkin left) was Thomas Gibson. He played Hotchner, a character who was a natural leader thanks to his even temper and reasonable nature. That’s why it was so shocking when he got kicked off the show for allegedly having a violent altercation with one of the producers!
In 2016, Entertainment Weekly reported that Gibson had kicked a writer/producer, resulting in his immediate dismissal from the show. Later, Gibson shared his version of the incident. As reported by Vanity Fair, he said, “As he brushed past me, my foot came up and tapped him on the leg. If I hadn’t moved, he would have run into me. We had some choice words, for which I apologized the next day, and that was it.”
That sounds fairly innocent, but Thomas Gibson had previously been sent to anger management after verbally abusing people on set and even shoving an assistant director. So no matter how innocent (or not so innocent) the kicking incident was, this was the third and final strike for an otherwise beloved author. And that meant he was out, forever changing the landscape of Criminal Minds.
Drama behind two fan-favorites leaving the show
Not every Criminal Minds star who left the show did so because of alleged onset violence. For example, both A.J. Cook (who played J.J. Jareau) and Paget Brewster (who played Chief Emily Prentiss) were dropped at the same time without any official reason given for their dismissal. Many at the time assumed that budget cuts were to blame. However, Brewster later spilled the tea about why they were allegedly let go, and it makes the executives at CBS seem both petty and heartless.
In a 2015 interview with AV Club, Brewster said, “[T]hat wasn’t budget cuts. … CBS had just called [executive producer] Ed Bernero and said, ‘I want new women.’ …I was heartbroken….it was easily one of the most hurtful things that’s ever happened.” While she was less pointed in her comments, Cook told TV Guide in 2011 that “it was an ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ sort of thing. … It’s opened my eyes to the industry, and that had to happen, really.”
Fortunately, there was a happy ending in all this for both ladies. After a successful fan petition, both women were brought back to the Criminal Minds fold, where they continue to perform their killer roles to this day.
Mandy Patinkin left over the show’s subject matter
When Criminal Minds first began, Mandy Patinkin was its biggest star. He was a film icon known for roles in legendary movies such as The Princess Bride, so it was awesome that he found time to act in such an out-of-character role. However, it wasn’t meant to be: shortly before Season 3 started, he bailed on the show altogether. And he didn’t do so because he was looking for a better role or a bigger paycheck. Instead, he left Criminal Minds because he found the show’s subject matter way too dark!
Speaking bluntly to New York Magazine in 2012, he claimed that “The biggest public mistake I ever made was that I chose to do Criminal Minds in the first place.” Continuing, he noted that “I thought it was something very different” and that “I never thought they were going to kill and rape all these women every night, every day, week after week, year after year. It was very destructive to my soul and my personality.”
Kirsten Vangsness Fought for Fair Pay and Respect
Kirsten Vangsness, best known for her role as the quirky and lovable tech analyst Penelope Garcia in Criminal Minds, has faced her share of behind-the-scenes challenges. Over the years, she became a vocal advocate for gender equality in Hollywood after reports revealed a significant pay gap between her and her male co-stars. Alongside A.J. Cook, she pushed for equal pay, even risking her position on the show to demand fairness. Vangsness also openly discussed the emotional toll of cast cuts and contract disputes, reflecting the uncertainty many actors face despite fan popularity. Far from being a traditional “scandal,” her story highlights the struggles for parity and respect in a long-running TV production that often mirrored real-life workplace inequalities.
If you’ve ever been creeped out by an episode of Criminal Minds, it’s hard to disagree with Patinkin’s assessment. On top of his moral objections to the show’s subject matter, though, he also had professional concerns: “After that, I didn’t think I would get to work in television again.” Fortunately, that wasn’t true, and he went on to star in Homeland, one of the buzziest shows of the 21st century!