Thomas Gibson Suspended From ‘Criminal Minds’ Following On-Set Altercation – Update

UDPATED with statement from Gibson: Aaron Hotchner will be going MIA. I’ve learned that Criminal Minds star Thomas Gibson has been suspended for at least one and likely two episodes after a physical altercation with a writer-producer on the set of the CBS crime drama. (I hear the incident involved Thomas kicking the person, said to be co-executive producer Virgil Williams).

“There were creative differences on the set and a disagreement. I regret that it occurred,” said Gibson in a statement to Deadline. “We all want to work together as a team to make the best show possible. We always have and we always will.”

In addition to Gibson’s immediate suspension from acting on the ABC Studios/CBS TV Studios-produced show — said to be filming episodes 3 and 4 – I hear his Season 12 directing stint on Criminal Minds also was nixed following the incident. (Gibson, has helmed 6 episodes of Criminal Minds so far, and some sources indicate he was directing when the incident occurred.) I hear Gibson has been written off the episodes during the suspension, and production on the show continues.

I hear the matter is being handled by Human Resources, with Gibson’s future status on the show under review. Deadline reached out to ABC Studios and CBS for comment on Wednesday.

I also hear this is the second similar incident for Gibson on Criminal Minds. Years ago, he allegedly pushed assistant director Ian Woolf and had to attend anger management classes but remained on the show.

Gibson is an original Criminal Minds cast member, playing Special Agent Aaron Hotchner since the series’ 2005 debut.

Criminal Minds returns for Season 12 on September 28.