Back in August, actor Thomas Gibson was fired from the CBS procedural Criminal Minds after an alleged altercation with show writer Virgil Williams, who accused Thomas of kicking him in the leg. The 57-year-old actor, who played FBI special agent Aaron Hotchner on the series, must have decided against filling a lawsuit against the show’s producers because now he’s giving his side of the story, and, no surprise, he’s claiming it was just an accident.
Actors often like to have their say about their character’s lines, so conflicts between actors and writers have been known to happen on set. Thomas told PEOPLE Magazine that on the evening of the incident he had an issue with one of his character’s line, which he felt “contradicted an earlier line.” He told writer Williams his concerns and the scribe held his ground, insisting the line was necessary. I’ll let Thomas finish the story:
”He came into that room and started coming towards me. As he brushed past me, my foot came up and tapped him on the leg,” Gibson recalls. “If I hadn’t moved, he would have run into me. We had some choice words, for which I apologized the next day, and that was it. It was over. We shot the scene, I went home – and I never got to go back.”
A likely story, right? I don’t buy it for a second. He’s definitely fishing for sympathy for his actions, lamenting that his character being phased out of the series (it’s not known yet as to how Aaron is going to make his exit) has deeply hurt him, stating, “It seems like they’re trying to erase me from the show.” Well duh, Kicky McKickerson, they are. Should they hire another actor to keep the character alive? I’m sure that’s not what you’re getting at.
Thomas went on to say that he’ll use his newly-found free time to spend time with his kids or pursue other projects, suggesting a return to comedy or possibly directing or producing. If his reputation precedes him, he might have a problem doing that. He wrapped up his chat with the magazine by saying, ”My pride and reputation are hurt, but in the end I know the good work is what people will remember. I just need more opportunities to do good work and be a good guy.”
I don’t think his co-stars are going to miss him, especially Shemar Moore, who has already made his feelings known in no uncertain terms. Co-star Aisha Tyler had a more diplomatic take on Thomas’ departure, saying, “Thomas was an incredible part of the show for a very long time. I know fans are going to miss him.” That’s some subtle shade, isn’t it? I am not sure “the fans” are really going to miss him, especially because his firing may have led to Paget Brewster returning to the show (I loved her on Grandfathered.)
Still in apology mode, Thomas recently tweeted to his fans, “I appreciate the love and support more than I can say. My sincere thanks to every one of you.” I don’t think this redemption tour is going to help Thomas, at least for the time being, because once you get a reputation as a hothead, it’s hard to live that down.
Photo credit: Getty Images, Fame Flynet, WENN.com
I can’t stop laughing. This sounds like a story my 10 year old son would tell! 😂😂😂
I know, right? Except he’s not a 10 year old, he’s a grown man and by all accounts, a total douche bag.
He gives off a creepy vibe. I am sorry I looked at the photos of him.
Fans are not going to miss him? They are going crazy on FB. A lot of people saying they are done with the show, threatening to boycott and “bring back Hotch”. Reading those comments just days after Gibson was fired was mind blowing. So many people were absolutely fine with Gibson kicking the writer, because that one is “known” to be an a-hole.
Have other co-stars been talking about Gibson being fired? If not, it should be very telling to the die hard fans who think, Gibson is an innocent angel.
I hate watch the show, honestly. Over the last like… 6months or so we’ve been watching episode after episode.
Oh my god it’s horrible. It’s a terribly written show with TERRIBLE actors.
But I keep watching it. I don’t know why.
That being said – I like his character well enough. I know that he had issues with Shemar Moore over the years because Moore would walk in late to set while Gibson was trying to get the shoot over with for the day so he could go home to his family. That’s something I can personally relate to – I hate lateness. But I bet it didn’t win him any fans in his co-stars.
I used to watch the show as well. I really liked the first seasons, when Paget Brewster left and they started to change actresses, I lost interest. I also think, the concept of the show gets old rather fast (they must have caught every active serial killer by now AND most of their serial killers hunt victims down on a daily/weekly basis).
They just should put the show to rest and be done with it.
He has crazy eyes.
He also needs to get his beard and hair stylists in the same page regarding colour. That’s just not a good look. Touch of grey my angry friend, touch of grey.
Also Aisha Tyler? Def shade. She’s a damn funny lady, she knows what she’s doing. The fans might miss him, everyone else will not.
What I thought! I never saw these crazy eyes in the show but it’s so obvious in pictures!
Yeah the eyes are weird. I don’t remember him looking like that during the Dharma and Greg days. Did he have work done on them?
It appears he had an eyelift by the same doctor as Kenny Rogers. 🙁
This wasn’t his first confrontation with people on set. Progressive discipline.
You know what else they call raising your foot and “tapping” someone with it? Kicking.
Doesn’t sound like any of his costars are too broken up over this, and he has a history of having problems on set. Bye dude .
A bit like “he didn’t hit him, he just put his hands on him”.
You tapped him on the leg with your foot? Last time I checked, that was the definition of kicking.
Ok. Sure.
He has a real case of the crazy eyes, doesn’t he. Especially in that top photograph.
I see all the abusers have come out to play this year. And they cant even be bothered to think up believable excuses. I’m done.
I wouldn’t call Gibson and abuser and certainly not an abuser of Williams. Williams is a trained MMA fighter or Karate expert or something like that. I can sort of believe the first narrative of the story which was,Thomas reacted because Williams was rushing towards him and Thomas knowing Williams skills made him assume that Williams was coming to attack.
It still doesn’t excuse his behavior but it’s not abuse. The show is done. Gibson was the show. No one is tuning in for Paget Brewster.
If you believe even half of that story, I have a bridge to sell you. A person who exploits a power disparity to assault another IS an abuser. Period. This is workplace abuse! I’m not sure why I even came back, my tolerance for apologists is depleted today. Now I’m really done. Enjoy.
ehm…. ¿57 years old????? woooowwwww …. :-O
i´m not going to miss him, Prentiss is backs and so Delko (from csi XD)
dance of joy for me!!!!!
He should join Scientology – he has the right combination of entitlement and denial. Not enough money now, though…
Shemar Moore already left the show before this incident, I believe. So sad because i loved his character.
I know he had addressed a drinking problem when he was caught sexting some woman a couple of years ago… both he and his wife claimed they were separated at the time……but he always looks like he just woke up from a bender and and just went oo work in those clothes
Thomas, not only are you a Southerner, you’re lucky enough to be a South Carolinian. Even more, you’re lucky enough to be a Charlestonian and, as such, you are well aware that we never, ever resort to physical violence. We talk about people behind their backs, sure, but never, ever resort to physical violence. It’s just not done.
I actually will miss Hotchner, but it may just be that I’m used to him. There will be some emptiness when he’s not there to say “Wheels up in 30.”. The early seasons of the show were so much better than the current show. But Spencer Reid had better not kick anyone and leave, or it’s (dun dun DUN) curtains for me.
If you’re going to act like a wazzock, then don’t be surprised when people don’t want to put up with your crap. That said, I think I’ll miss the character… I thought I’d miss Morgan too, but I didn’t.