Shemar Moore would like to clear the air when it comes to Thomas Gibson.
Late last week, Gibson was fired from Criminal Minds, losing the job he held on that CBS drama since 2005 after he kicked a producer in the shins.
According to various sources, the incident (which occurred about two weeks ago) was merely the latest violent confrontation for Gibson on set.
Executives had enough and let Gibson go from his role as Aaron Hotchner as a result, issuing a terse statement to the public in response.
“Thomas Gibson has been dismissed from Criminal Minds,” it read.
“Creative details for how the character’s exit will be addressed in the show will be announced at a later date.”
While reaction poured in from across the television landscape in response to this stunning development, Moore was the one who made headlines for his reply to the firing.
Or, perhaps we should now say, his alleged reply to the firing.
“Lot of birdies chirping out there. The gossip is real,” Moore said in a video that he has since deleted, but which we’ve shared above.
He added:
“I hear it. I see it. I’m sure a lot of you do too. So I’ll just say this. I believe that good things happen to good people. Honest people.
“Hardworking people. Humble people. People who believe in basic goodness. Treat people how you expect them to treat you.”
A majority of folks out there assumed that Moore was referring to Gibson with these words, with insiders saying the co-stars often clashed during their many years together on Criminal Minds.
(Moore departed the series toward the end of Season 11.)
But Moore now insists this wasn’t the case.
“They spun that all wrong,” Moore told a paparazzo on his way to a workout on Tuesday.
The actor then brought up an ongoing lawsuit he has filed against Keith Tisdell, a Criminal Minds guest star who Moore alleges stole $ 60,000 from him via embezzlement.
“It could’ve been [about] the guy from the lawsuit,” Moore told the paparazzo, concluding
“But mostly it’s about life.”
Sure, maybe. But it could also be about life AND about Thomas Gibson.
Moore did post the video just days after Gibson was fired.
Gibson, meanwhile, is considering a lawsuit of his own.
He handled his firing with a simple, fair statement, but sources say he has met with an attorney to figure out his next move.
“I love Criminal Minds and have put my heart and soul into it for the last 12 years,” Gibson said on the day he was let go.
“I had hoped to see it through to the end, but that won’t be possible now. I would just like to say thank you to the writers, producers, actors, our amazing crew, and, most importantly, the best fans that a show could ever hope to have.”
The question is now this:
Will Criminal Minds replace Gibson this season?
And will you still tune in to the long-running series on CBS?