Paget Brewster Reflects on Her Departure from Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster reflects on her brief exit from the show after being let go and later reinstated.
“I believe it was season six or seven,” Brewster, 57, mentioned during the Monday, April 27 episode of Kristin Davis’ “Are You a Charlotte?” podcast.
The actress, who has been playing Emily Prentiss since season 2 of the CBS crime thriller, revealed that Criminal Minds featured a backdoor pilot for another series, meaning that the episode served as an introduction to a potential spin-off and helped decide its future.
“Apparently, what I heard was that when Les Moonves — the now notorious former president of CBS — got the pilot included in our episode, it was the first time he’d watched the show [in a while],” Brewster claimed. “I think he saw it for the first time in years and said, ‘Oh, I don’t like those women. Get rid of those women.’ Consequently, A.J. Cook and I were let go.”
Moonves, 76, resigned as chairman and CEO of CBS in 2018 following numerous allegations of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse.
Cook, 47, who portrays Jennifer “JJ” Jareau on Criminal Minds, left the series alongside Brewster after season 5 in 2010. Brewster returned for several episodes in season 6 after her agent had a significant discussion with CBS, as she described. Cook made her return as a main character in season 7.
Brewster revealed that although she was invited back full-time, she chose to depart after season 7 in 2012 as she was “so mad” at the network. She then pursued comedy roles in shows like Grandfathered, Community, and Another Period.
Eventually, Brewster reconsidered her choice to leave Criminal Minds.
“I genuinely held onto that anger for far too long,” she recalled. “It was an unhealthy issue to cling to. Because A.J. and I were like, ‘We performed well, learned our lines, and never caused conflicts.’ We were quite upset. I clung to my anger for too long, and after four years, I finally wondered, ‘Why am I not on the show? I adore everyone there. The only person I dislike is Les Moonves, and I never have to see him because he doesn’t care about this show.’”
Brewster made her return to the show in season 12 in 2016 after former co-star Thomas Gibson was let go due to an altercation with a producer. Gibson, 63, portrayed Aaron Hotchner, the head of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, and Brewster’s character assumed his role.
Criminal Minds has returned with a revival on Paramount+ — but viewers have witnessed the cast evolve on and off screen since the procedural first aired in 2005, introducing a team of criminal profilers working for the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit.
Before agreeing to return, Brewster emphasized her demand for equal pay.
“I fought to raise my episode fee closer to what the men earned because we were consistently paid less,” she shared. “I thought, ‘I kind of have them under pressure. They need me more than I need this show.’ So, I increased my episode fee significantly. Then, when the other female cast members’ contracts were up, I said, ‘This is what I received. Go secure more.’ … And they did, resulting in significant raises for them.”
Although Criminal Minds — which follows the Behavior Analysis Unit (BAU) in their pursuit of serial killers — was initially canceled after season 15 in 2020, it was revived as Criminal Minds: Evolution in 2022, with Brewster returning as part of the cast.
Criminal Minds season 19 is set to premiere on Paramount+ on May 28.
