After 12 seasons, actor Thomas Gibson was fired from Criminal Minds, with FBI Special Agent Aaron Hotchner written out of the collection. The Criminal Minds’ FBI solid revolved pretty typically, with actors selecting to depart the long-lasting present behind to pursue exterior pursuits, however this wasn’t the case for Thomas Gibson. Aaron Hotchner wasn’t formally written out till season 12, episode 6. Hotch left Criminal Minds as a result of the character went into the Witness Protection Program after a serial killer stalked his son. He ultimately selected to be a full-time father to Jack slightly than return to the BAU.

In 2016, Thomas Gibson was suspended from the Criminal Minds solid attributable to an on-set bodily altercation with one of many writer-producers. After his suspension, Gibson made a public assertion of remorse for the incident, explaining the quarrel was based mostly on artistic variations surrounding an episode he was directing. In an official assertion on the suspension from the Criminal Minds crew, it was famous Gibson had beforehand gotten right into a dispute with one of many assistant administrators, resulting in obligatory anger administration counseling (by way of Deadline). However, regardless of the circumstances, many Criminal Minds viewers need to know if Hotch may return.

Why Thomas Gibson Really Left Criminal Minds

Thomas Gibson’s Conduct On Set Is The Reason Hotch Was Written Out

Thomas Gibson left Criminal Minds in 2016 as a result of he was fired, and whereas there was a single incident that sparked his suspension, his on-set conduct had reportedly been problematic for some time. Since persevering with his position as Agent Hotchner was nonetheless up for debate within the two weeks of his suspension, it is sensible it took 4 episodes to formally write out the character.

The choice to fireside Thomas Gibson from Criminal Minds was weighed with previous situations of his risky conduct, as many sources described his tendencies as anger-prone (by way of Variety). Following the termination, the actor has both taken a break from the display screen or struggled to search out roles. Since Criminal Minds season 12, Gibson has solely appeared in two tasks: The 2019 TV movie Shadow Wolves and a voice position within the 2017 film Axis.

Thomas Gibson spoke to Us Weekly after being fired from the present, and it was clear that he deeply regretted now not with the ability to proceed on along with his position as Hotch:

I like Criminal Minds and have put my coronary heart and soul into it for the final 12 years. I had hoped to see it by to the tip, however that received’t be attainable now. I’d similar to to say thanks to the writers, producers, actors, our superb crew and, most significantly, the very best followers {that a} present may ever hope to have.

While Gibson’s firing could have been needed for shielding the present’s on-set tradition and the studio’s legal responsibility for repeated situations, Hotch leaving Criminal Minds offered artistic points for the present. Hotch’s exit from Criminal Minds coincided with one other authentic solid member leaving the collection, as Derek Morgan actor Shemar Moore departed on the finish of season 11. Losing two of the final 5 remaining authentic Criminal Minds characters in such a short while risked a drop for the favored collection. However, regardless of the change-up in solid, Criminal Minds continues to be going robust.

Could Thomas Gibson Return In Criminal Minds: Evolution?

An Agent Hotchner Return In The Reboot Is Unlikely, But Not Impossible

Since he wasn’t killed off, there is not any motive Agent Hotchner cannot be part of the returning solid for Criminal Minds: Evolution, the Paramount+ reboot. The probabilities of Thomas Gibson returning to play him, nonetheless, are slim to none. Since there is not any actual narrative motive to reintroduce even a recast Hotchner, it is fairly secure to say that Gibson’s legacy with the present is effectively and really over. Gibson’s fallout with the crew and different members of the Criminal Minds solid was an enormous blow to the present and Gibson’s fame.

Thomas Gibson was allegedly risky to the purpose of being violent on set. He additionally hasn’t achieved any vital work since, so the studio has little incentive to rebuild these burned bridges for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, even when mediation and backbone have been attainable. Gibson left Criminal Minds in 2016, and whereas some solid and crew from that point have since left the present, many stay, and they’d in all probability be unwilling to contemplate a Hotchner return.

Related

7 Criminal Minds Characters That Can Still Return In Evolution Season 2

As the BAU delves deeper into the thriller of Gold Star in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, a number of authentic characters can return and assist them.

Since there’s probably not demand from Criminal Minds followers to see him again, the possibilities that Thomas Gibson will likely be among the many returning BAU alumni within the Paramount+ reboot are kind of nonexistent.

Season 16 Proves Criminal Minds Still Doesn’t Need Agent Hotchner

Criminal Minds: Evolution Is Still A Hit Without Hotch

Criminal Minds: Evolution was a hit with out Thomas Gibson. As of now, the primary solid of Criminal Minds: Evolution sees Garcia, JJ, Rossi, Prentiss, Dr. Tara Lewis, and Alvez. While a few of these characters joined later in Criminal Minds, many of the principal solid is again for season 16, and it is proved to be a giant return in spite of everything.

Prentiss has finally taken over Hotch’s job, and he or she does nice work preventing for the BAU in opposition to Deputy Director Bailey. With the collection persevering with, it is clear Thomas Gibson’s Agent Hotch is not missed in the identical manner as Matthew Gray Gubler’s Spencer Reid is.

What Thomas Gibson Has Said About Being Fired From Criminal Minds

The Criminal Minds Actor Puts His Exit Down To A Misunderstanding

After his termination from Criminal Minds, Thomas Gibson gave his aspect of the story. He defined there was a line within the script that contradicted one thing that occurred earlier within the episode. Thomas Gibson mentioned that he approached writer-producer Virgil Williams and talked about it however was instructed it needed to keep within the script. According to Gibson (by way of PEOPLE), he returned to the solid, and the producer:

”
[Williams] got here into that room and began coming in the direction of me. As he brushed previous me, my foot got here up and tapped him on the leg
.”

Thomas Gibson claimed that Virgil Williams would have run into him if he hadn’t moved. Gibson mentioned he had some “choice words” with Williams after that, and he apologized for his feedback the subsequent day. However, Gibson mentioned he went residence after taking pictures that scene after which by no means returned to Criminal Minds, because the manufacturing suspended him after that incident:

”
I really feel prefer it took years to make an excellent fame and a minute to wreck it
.”

What Thomas Gibson Has Done Since Criminal Minds

Gibson Has Only Actively Worked On Three Projects

Since leaving Criminal Minds, Thomas Gibson has solely been in a handful of latest tasks. Between specializing in his household, touring, and the actor’s strike, it seems there have not been a number of tasks that he has chosen to take part in, or casting administrators have been much less prone to solid him understanding he was fired from a significant challenge.

In 2017, a kind of tasks was launched. Aisha Tyler, one among his Criminal Minds costars, made her function directorial debut with the Kickstarter-funded Axis. The film adopted an actor in his automotive for all of the motion, however the actor took a collection of telephone calls and listened to the radio all through the film, leaving many voice components to be recorded. Gibson and plenty of of his former Criminal Minds costars lent their voices to the challenge. Alongside Gibson, Tyler herself, Paget Brewster, Kristen Vangsness, and Adam Rodriguez all did voice work for the film.

2019 noticed the discharge of the made-for-tv-movie Shadow Wolves. There, Gibson performed Colonel Branson, the top of a secret division inside the NSA who employed a rogue group of brokers and troopers to do his bidding. The film didn’t carry out notably effectively, and it’s really higher recognized for being the film that earned Xochitl Gomez, who would go on to play America Chavez within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a Young Artist award.

Aside from these two tasks, Gibson can be connected to The Writer’s Bible. He wrote the story for the challenge and stars in it, a couple of author who travels to a secluded cabin within the hopes of battling his author’s block. It has but to be launched.

With Gibson’s foray into the world of Cameo, which permits followers to attach instantly with celebrities to buy recorded messages, there’s additionally a sign that he should need to return to Criminal Minds. Gibson has not mentioned the collection publicly fairly often however has willingly answered questions for followers on the platform about his character and time on the present. There’s all the time the likelihood that years after the occasion that led to his firing, issues have modified, and he may probably return to his best-known position, although the present would want an excellent motive for his return.

Other Long-Running Shows That Dealt With Similar Firings

Big Name Actors Such As Charlie Sheen Has Been Fired From Their Hit Shows

It is actually an attention-grabbing second when an actor on a long-running tv present is fired, similar to with Thomas Gibson on Criminal Minds, however additionally it is not an unheard-of occasion. There have been loads of instances through which established exhibits with actors taking part in fashionable characters have been fired, and most of the time, additionally it is attributable to on-set conduct. A case just like Gibson’s scenario is the firing of Clayne Crawford from Lethal Weapon. During an episode Crawford directed, costar Damon Wayans was injured throughout a stunt gone unsuitable whereas audio of Crawford screaming on set leaked.

Crawford was fired from his lead position as Martin Riggs on the finish of the second season of the present and was changed by Seann William Scott as a brand new character. While Lethal Weapon was a success present, there are different instances of actors who had been round longer solely to be fired. Though it was introduced as a shared choice, it’s speculated that Chevy Chase was fired from Community after utilizing a racial slur on-set following years of conflicts between the actor and different folks concerned within the present.

Actors Who Were Fired From TV Shows:

These on-set troubles typically spill over into the general public sphere, which regularly forces the present to make a change. Following experiences of bother on the set of Grey’s Anatomy, the feuds have been addressed throughout a press convention following the present profitable a Golden Globe. In response to the rumors, Isaiah Washington used an offensive slur that appeared so as to add to the stress of the present whereas additionally making Washington seem as a key reason behind that stress, resulting in his firing.

Perhaps essentially the most infamous and public firing from a long-running present was Charlie Sheen being let go from Two and a Half Men. The comedy collection was the largest present on tv on the time however was rocked by scandal following Sheen’s public tirade in opposition to these he labored with. After weeks of the actor attacking his colleagues in weird rants, the present introduced Sheen was fired and Ashton Kutcher was employed as a brand-new character.

Criminal Minds facilities on instances of the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), a bunch of elite prison profilers who analyze the nation’s most infamous criminals as they give the impression of being to anticipate their subsequent strikes earlier than they strike once more. Starting in 2005, Criminal Minds ran for 15 seasons earlier than getting a revival present, Criminal Minds: Evolution, in 2022.

Cast

Shemar Moore , Joe Mantegna , Kirsten Vangsness , Paget Brewster , Thomas Gibson , Matthew Gray Gubler , A.J. Cook , Mandy Patinkin , Lola Glaudini , Rachel Nichols , Jennifer Love Hewitt , Aisha Tyler

Release Date

September 22, 2005

Seasons

17

Showrunner

Erica Messer