The police procedural drama genre is a hard one to crack into, but Criminal Minds became a fan favorite when it premiered in 2005. Along with the show, several actors also created a major wave on screen, but the most famous of the lot was Thomas Gibson. He was already well-known in the television industry and had a slew of projects to his name.
But his portrayal of FBI profiler Aaron Hotchner on Criminal Minds would definitely be one of his most standout performances. While he’s a great actor, his on-set antics have been heavily criticized, which also led to his firing from the show in 2016.
Thomas Gibson Was Allegedly Difficult to Work With on Criminal Minds
As one of the first actors to join the cast of Criminal Minds, Thomas Gibson played the role of FBI profiler Aaron Hotchner for 11 long years. On the show, his character was calm and acted as a father figure to the rest of the team. But behind the scenes, several instances portrayed the actor in a very bad light with fellow actors adding that he was indeed difficult to work with.
This was allegedly one of the main reasons why after 250 episodes he was removed from the show in 2016. His departure came as a shock to the viewers who had no clue what really happened. However, an Instagram message posted by his co-star Shemar Moore, took an indirect aim at the actor. In a series of now-deleted messages via Deadline, Moore added:
Lot of birdies chirping out there; the gossip is real. I’ll just say this: I believe in karma. Good things happen to good people. Honest people. Hard-working people. Humble people. People who believe in basic goodness. …
He continued:
Treat people how you expect them to treat you. Celebrate yourself and celebrate your blessings — as you should — but just know that you’re not better than anybody.
Apparently, the final straw for Gibson came during an on-set fight in 2016. The actor had allegedly kicked a writer in the leg during an argument, after which ABC and CBS Studios announced his departure from the show. After he left, his character was written off the show thus ending his time in the hit crime drama. However, this was not the first incident in which the actor had been violent towards a crew member.
In 2010 as well, he had reportedly pushed an assistant director, and the network reportedly made him attend anger management classes. For some he was a “dedicated family man” on set, others were happy to see him go. As one staff member added via Variety:
It’s like a dark cloud has been lifted off that show. You never knew which Thomas Gibson was going to show up.
Despite the drama and the actor leaving the project, Criminal Minds continued to stay popular. While his on-set behavior left many angry, he did play a good part in the show’s success and fame.
The Real Reason Why Shemar Moore Said Goodbye to Criminal Minds
Since the very first episode of Criminal Minds, Shemar Moore’s character Derek Morgan has been an integral part of the police procedural crime drama. While his toughness and unshakeable bond with the team captured everyone’s attention, after eleven years the actor realized that it was finally time to say goodbye to his role.
His departure from the show was both intense and emotional. In the episode titled Derek, he is kidnapped and tortured, but he ultimately escapes and kills his kidnappers. Two episodes later, in A Beautiful Disaster, things become even more difficult for the character when his pregnant wife, Savannah, gets shot. After she safely delivers their son Hank (named after his late father) Derek Morgan leaves to focus more on his family.
So, Moore’s departure did not stem from any drama but just that the actor wanted to try out other opportunities. After the show, he participated in the CBS series S.W.A.T. taking on another action-packed role.