LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12 (UPI) — Long-running “Criminal Minds” star Thomas Gibson has been fired from the hit crime drama after reportedly kicking a writer.
“Thomas Gibson has been dismissed from ‘Criminal Minds.’ Creative details for how the character’s exit will be addressed in the show will be announced at a later date,” ABC Studios and CBS TV Studios who produce the show said in a joint statement Friday.
The dismissal comes after reports surfaced that the actor was suspended from ‘Criminal Minds’ after getting into a creative dispute with a writer during production on Season 12 that ended with Gibson kicking the writer in the leg.
Citing sources close to the situation, Deadline reports that the writer was actually executive producer Virgil Williams.
“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 always will,” Gibson said in a statement at the time.
Gibson has starred on the series since its inception in 2005 as special agent Aaron Hotchner and also directed six episodes.
“Criminal Minds” returns for Season 12 staring Sept. 28 on CBS.
