Thomas Gibson May File Lawsuit Over Criminal Minds Firing

We may not have heard the last from Thomas Gibson.

On Friday, Gibson was fired from his lead role on Criminal Minds, putting an end to a job he had held since 2005. 

CBS executives made this decision after Gibson kicked a producer on set a few weeks ago.

The veteran actor reportedly got into a dispute over the “creative” direction of the series with a writer named Virgil Williams, turning the argument physical after Williams got all up in his face.

Gibson was subsequently suspended for two weeks.

But that suspension turned into a firing just a couple days after news of the fight went viral.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gibson has since hired a top Los Angeles law firm to pursue possible legal action against the show’s producers.

He has retained the services of Skip Miller, a prominent litigator with experience in entertainment industry disputes, who has confirmed that he’ll meet with Gibson this week in order to determine their next move.

A few more details, meanwhile, has emerged regarding the incident that got Gibson bounced from the drama.

Sources say Gibson was directing an episode that was written by Williams.

He disagreed with Williams when it came to an unknown “creative choice,” which led to a few words being exchanged between director and writer.

The incident, which culminated in Gibson kicking Williams in the shins, was witnessed by several Criminal Minds producers, including showrunner Erica Messer.

Following the fight, Williams (pictured below with Gibson) filed a formal complaint with human resources representatives for ABC Studios and CBS Television Studios.

Another director was brought in to complete filming on the episode in question, while Gibson was suspended for the next pair of episodes.

On Friday, upon announcing Gibson’s firing, CBS did not mince words.

There was no sugar coating nor was there any gratitude shown to Gibson for his 12 years on the show.

“Thomas Gibson has been dismissed from Criminal Minds,” CBS and the studios said Friday in a joint statement, adding:

“Creative details for how the character’s exit will be addressed in the show will be announced at a later date.”

View Slideshow: 18 Actors Who Were Fired From Major Roles

In 2010, Gibson also shoved an assistant director.

It seems pretty clear at this point that he wasn’t the most popular person on set.

On Saturday, for example, former cast member Shemar Moore (who left Criminal Minds earlier this year after 11 seasons) released a video that implied Gibson’s firing was karma.

It has since been deleted, but Moore didn’t hold back in the footage.

“Lot of birdies chirping out there; the gossip is real. I hear it. I see it. I’m sure a lot of you do, too, so I’ll just say this: I believe in karma,” he said.

“Good things happen to good people. Honest people. Hard-working people. Humble people. People who believe in basic goodness. People who believe in themselves. People who believe in others. Good things will happen to you; it’s not always easy; but you gotta grind it out and you gotta believe in you.

“Treat people how you expect them to treat you. Celebrate yourself; celebrate your blessings — as you should. But just know that you’re not better than anybody. We all have our own gifts, so unwrap them bad boys and show ’em off.

“But then appreciate other people’s gifts. Church is over.”

As for Gibson?

This is what he said soon after his firing late last week:

“I love Criminal Minds and have put my heart and soul into it for the last 12 years. 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.”

Thomas Gibson Speaks on Criminal Minds Firing

In the most stunning piece of TV news this month, Thomas Gibson is out of a job.

The veteran Criminal Minds star got suspended for two weeks after kicking a writer on the set of his hit show…

… and then, BOOM!

A day after this information went public, Thomas Gibson got fired.

CBS executives released a short, terse statement this afternoon in which they relieved Gibson of his duties as BAU Agent Aaron Hotcher, saying:

“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.”

Was it simply a matter of Gibson getting into the aforementioned dispute with a producer named Virgil Williams?

No, it doesn’t sound that way.

An earlier report alleged that Gibson also shoved an assistant director back in 2010 (the same year he was pulled over for drunk driving, FWIW) and was told to attend anger management classes as a result.

The actor appears to have a history of violence on the Criminal Minds set.

We can’t say for certain, but it’s therefore safe to assume that there may have been other incidents in between these two that have not yet been made public.

Due to this influx of inappropriate actions, CBS felt that it had no choice but to let Gibson go.

A couple hours after he was ousted from a job he held since 2005, Gibson released a statement to TV Line.

“I love Criminal Minds and have put my heart and soul into it for the last 12 years,” it reads.

“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.”

Gibson is the lead of the show. So fans will no doubt be wondering:

How is this going to work?!?

We have it on strong authority that Gibson will appear on the first two episodes of Criminal Minds Season 12.

His character will then be sent off on a special assignment, which coincides with Paget Brewset coming back to reprise the role of Emily Prentiss.

She will assist the BAU on a case, which is a stroke of good fortunate for the drama (this was all planned out before the Gibson situation even arose).

CBS obviously hopes that Brewster’s return will soften the blow of Gibson’s departure.

But there are still many questions that will need to be answered as Season 12 goes along.

Hotcher simply isn’t coming back, which will need to be explained, while viewers wonder if a new male lead will be brought in to take Gibson’s place.

Remember:

Shemar Moore departed the show as Derek Morgan just prior to Season 11 ending, so Criminal Minds has lost two key players in a matter of months.

How do you feel about this huge casting decision? You’ve gotta figure producers didn’t think they had a choice if they made it so quickly, right?

Will you tune in for the September 28 premiere? Think other Thomas Gibson stories will soon come out?

Should he be replaced as soon as possible? Can you think of another actor you want to take over at the BAU?

AHHH! We have so many questions!

Here’s a look at the sort of company Gibson has now joined:

View Slideshow: 18 Actors Who Were Fired From Major Roles

Thomas Gibson: Dismissed from Criminal Minds!

Thomas Gibson is a goner.

Just one day after news broke that Gibson had been suspended from Criminal Minds due to a violent act on set, CBS has now confirmed that the actor has been FIRED.

The move was pretty swift and quite shocking.

Everything has happened very quickly when it comes to this controversy.

Gibson has portrayed lead BAU agent Aaron Hotchner since 2005.

Yesterday morning, we learned that Gibson kicked a writer/producer on the show in the leg after the two had a dispute over the creative direction of the series.

Sources who were in the vicinity of the incident say Gibson was egged on by the writer, Virgil Williams…

… but that Gibson was the one who turned a verbal argument into a physical altercation.

Williams told his agent about what happened; the agent went to the network; and the network punished Gibson.

It seemed like the suspension may last for awhile because this dispute took place over two weeks ago and Gibson has not been back on set since.

The actor didn’t deny that he was at fault, either, saying the following in a statement to TMZ:

“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 was arrested for drunk driving in 2010.

That same year, he shoved an assistant director on set, allegedly because the director was moving too slowly.

That scandal was kept mostly quiet at the time, but insiders say CBS executives ordered Gibson to attend anger management classes as a result.

So the guy has a history of violence and of making mistakes in judgment, that much seems obvious.

There had been earlier chatter that he may be fired, but most assumed that decision would not be made for several weeks and that Gibson would be let go at the end of Season 12.

Instead, the axe has come down now.

“Thomas Gibson has been dismissed from Criminal Minds,” CBS said this afternoon via statement, adding:

“Creative details for how the character’s exit will be addressed in the show will be announced at a later date.”

Special Agent Hotchner will likely be sent away on special assignment in order to explain his absence.

We know that he’ll appear on the first two episodes of Season 12 and that the first episode in which Gibson will NOT appear will mark an episode on which Paget Brewster returns as Emily Prentiss.

So that works out well for the series.

View Slideshow: 18 Actors Who Were Fired From Major Roles

Speaking on the re-emergence of Prentiss, executive producer Erica Messer told TV Line this summer that she will be “doing essentially temporary duty with us, while Hotch is on temporary duty doing something that the Director tapped him to do.”

Gibson’s Hotchner will therefore be off-screen “for a couple of episodes,” Messer said at the time, concluding:

“And then we’ll get to see what that assignment was about. It’s a big thing that will play out.”

It’s an even bigger thing that will play out now… in a way no one could have predicted just a few days ago.

WOW, huh?!?!?

Pretty crazy development, isn’t it?

React to this major news below and then sound off: Will you still watch Criminal Minds online or on television each week without Gibson around?

Thomas Gibson to Be FIRED from Criminal Minds?

Thomas Gibson is not currently on the Criminal Minds set.

As previously reported, the veteran actor is on suspension after he kicked a writer in the leg over a storyline disagreement.

This much we know.

But this much we must now wonder:

Will Thomas Gibson ever return to the set of this hit CBS drama?

According to TMZ sources, the answer is probably yes. But that doesn’t mean he’ll stick around for very long.

Producers are reportedly considering whether or not to fire Gibson from his long-held post. That’s how sick they are of his (violent) antics.

If this firing takes place, it will likely go into effect on Season 13.

Gibson plays Aaron Hotchner on the series and there’s no way to quickly make that lead agent go away.

But give the writers time and they can obviously come up with a storyline that eventually leads to Gibson departing the show.

He has been a key cast member since 2005.

However, Gibson got into a dispute with co-executive producer Virgil Williams a couple weeks ago.

Sources on set say Williams definitely egged Gibson on and that Williams has a pretty huge ego.

He did not make things physical, but he did taunt the actor and get up close to him, prompting Gibson to kick Williams in the leg.

Was the action taken as a form of self-defense? Maybe.

But Gibson also pushed an assistant director back in 2010. He has a history of violence on set and was ordered by producers at one point to attend anger management classes.

Williams, pictured below with Gibson, told his agent about the latest confrontation.

The agent went to CBS executives and they had little choice but to suspend Gibson.

Here is what we know about the way his absence will be handled on Season 12:

Hotch will be missing in action starting in the third episode after being assigned a TDY (temporary duty) elsewhere.

TV Guide was the first outlet to provide these details.

Fortunately, those who watch Criminal Minds online or on television may not even notice his absence because this episode will also mark Paget Brewster’s return as Prentiss.

Look for that beloved character to lend her BAU friends a helping hand in apprehending the remaining unsubs who broke out of prison at the end of Season 11.

Got all that? There won’t be a quiz later, don’t worry.

If Gibson does get fired, he can at least take solace in not being the first actor or actress ever fired from a major TV show.

He would join the following company:

View Slideshow: 17 Actors Who Were Fired From Major Roles

Thomas Gibson: A History of Violence on Criminal Minds

Thomas Gibson solves crimes as agent Aaron Hotchner on Criminal Minds.

But new reports have surfaced that make the veteran actor appear as if he’s been on the wrong side of the fictional law all these years.

We’re not saying Gibson should be in jail, we’re just writing a very poor segue to explain what has recently gone down with the star.

Earlier this morning, news broke that Gibson has been suspended from Criminal Minds.

The actor allegedly got into a heated dispute with one of the show’s writers. When things grew especially tense, Gibson actually kicked the dude in the leg!

And Gibson has pretty much admitted to his inappropriate actions.

“There were creative differences on the set and a disagreement,” he said in a statement, adding:

“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.”

Now, new information has surfaced about the incident; about the writer; and about Gibson himself.

First, the writer: his name is Virgil Williams.

He serves as co-executive producer on the long-running drama and he’s a trained boxer. He’s also a practitioner of martial arts.

An insider tells TMZ that Williams possesses a “super-big macho ego” and that Williams may have egged Gibson on during their argument.

The website writes that Williams “escalated the verbal argument by making a move” toward Gibson in a highly aggressive manner.”

As a result, Gibson’s kick was sort of done in self-defense.

After it happened, Willams went to his agent… who went to CBS management… who had no choice but to punish Gibson.

So, yes, this makes it sound as if Gibson was kind of the victim.

But hold on:

TMZ also reports that he has a history of violent encounters on the set of Criminal Minds.

In 2010 Gibson, shoved an assistant director – in front of cast and crew – while shooting a scene.

At the time, he blamed it on the director, claiming the guy was moving too slowly. (So this was cause for a push?)

Gibson wasn’t suspended at the time, but CBS executives did send him to anger management classes as a result.

Overall, Gibson has been aggressive and verbally abusive for YEARS on set, yet folks have remained quiet because he’s the show’s star.

It now looks like his behavior has finally come back to haunt him.

Gibson has been suspended for two weeks, but the punishment could last longer.

Criminal Minds Season 12 will kick off (pun, intended) on Wednesday, September 28 at 9/8c.

View Slideshow: CANCELED! Which TV Shows Got the Axe in 2016?

We can’t say for certain, but it’s safe to assume Gibson will be a part of the premiere.

That episode has probably already been shot.

But will we been Hotchner-free for a few installments afterward due to this suspension?

How will the show write the character out if so?

Time, folks, will tell.

Let’s hope Gibson chills out and gets the attitude adjustment he seems to need until then.

Thomas Gibson Suspended from Criminal Minds After Kicking Writer

Thomas Gibson has been suspended from his job.

The veteran Criminal Minds actor reportedly got into a physical altercation with a producer not very long ago, resulting in a two-week suspension from shooting.

According to TMZ, Gibson actually kicked this producer/writer in the leg over what is being described as a “creative dispute.”

Let no one ever say Thomas Gibson isn’t passionate about his job, we guess.

And also that he may have a serious anger management problem.

Insiders tell TMZ that the actor was directing and acting in a scene a few weeks back ago when this incident took place.

An argument ensued, which is not unusual on the set of a TV show… only this argument escalated and resulted in Gibson taking out his frustrations in a violent manner.

The writer proceeded to call his agent, who called the suits at CBS.

The network therefore had no choice but to take action,

It’s unclear for how long Gibson is suspended, but it’s been two weeks already.

The actor has played Aaron Hotchner on the smash hit CBS drama since 2005.

He doesn’t deny that something happened on set that day, telling TMZ in a statement:

“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.”

Criminal Minds is currently in production on the fourth episode of Season 12. It will return with new episodes on Wednesday, September 28 at 9/8c.

Oddly enough, CBS faced a similar situation in 2013 when former CSI star George Eads got into an on-set altercation with a writer.

The actor was subsequently written off the series for several episodes.

As those who watch Criminal Minds online know, however, Gibson is one of the show’s main leads.

He has also directed a number of memorable Criminal Minds episodes, including “The Night Watch,” “Lockdown,” “Boxed In,” “Gabby” and “All That Remains.”

Gibson has been nominated for two Golden Globes over his career, both times for his performance on the sitcom Dharma & Greg..

Yup, Gibson used to be funny!

But there’s nothing humorous about what he did here.

View Slideshow: 17 Actors Who Were Fired From Major Roles

Watch Criminal Minds Online: Check Out Season 11 Episode 20!

Criminal Minds has said goodbye to one character and welcomed back another over the past few weeks.

But while Criminal Minds Season 11 Episode 20 didn’t shock viewers with any major goodbyes or hellos, it did still pack a powerful punch.

Watch Criminal Minds Season 11 Episode 20 Online

On this installment of the CBS drama, the BAU team members searched for an UnSub who was purposely disfiguring victims. Gross, right?

Meanwhile, Rossi had a very awkward reunion with his ex-wife, who kept his daughter, Joy, a secret from him for nearly 30 years.

How did THAT confrontation go? Click on the video above to watch Criminal Minds online and find out now.

Watch Criminal Minds Online: Check Out Season 11 Episode 19!

Criminal Minds said goodbye to a long-time favorite last week.

But hello to a former favorite this week!

Watch Criminal Minds Season 11 Episode 19 Online

Indeed, Criminal Minds Season 11 Episode 19 centered on ex-BAU team member and current Interpol agent Emily Prentiss tracking an international serial killer and enlists the assistance of her friends at the BAU.

How come?

Because Prentiss became convinced the UnSub’s next victim was on American soil. GULP!

What did the BAU do in order to thwart this threat? What else took place during an intense hour of television?

Use the above video to watch Criminal Minds online and find out now!

Criminal Minds Season 11 Episode 18: Watch Online!

You won’t believe this, but Criminal Mind dealt with a grisly and disturbing case this week.

Okay, we take it back. You probably do believe that.

Watch Criminal Minds Season 11 Episode 18 Online

As for what actually went down on Criminal Minds Season 11 Episode 18?

Things got especially personal for team members this week after an unsub targeted the BAU. As you might expect, this prompted the team goes into action to find out who is responsible.

Did they get to the bottom of it before disaster struck?

Use the video above to watch Criminal Minds online and find out now!

Downton Abbey Stars Ditch British Accents, Blow Our Minds

Downton Abbey has been an unexpected giant hit in the United States for years now.

But it doesn"t feature zombies. Or naval officers solving crimes. And we can"t think of a single superhero who has ever made an appearance on the PBS drama.

So, what is the appeal?

Stephen Colbert thinks he knows.

The talk show host had stars Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville and Allen Leech as guests on The Late Show this week and he offered up the notion that Americans love Downton Abbey because those British accents are just so cool.

They make everything sound so fancy and important.

But what if Dockery, Bonneville and Leech read a scene in American accents? What would the effect be?

Total and complete hilarity, that"s what!

Especially when Dockery uses a Valley Girl accent. And Bonneville comes across like a Disney villain of some kind. And then Leech shows them both up when he raises his voice many octives and, let"s face it, sounds like a stereotypical gay man.

"Let"s just forget about this. Mary, who are you wearing?" he concludes, much to the enjoyment of Colbert and his castmates.

Would you watch Downton Abbey online if the cast all used American accents?

It"s an intriguing question. Try to answer it as you experience this bizarre event below: