(CBS)
Thomas Gibson has been fired from the CBS series “Criminal Minds” for kicking writer-producer Virgil Williams during an on-set altercation. Fans of the show are now reacting to the lead actor leaving after 11 seasons. See fan reactions below.
“Thomas Gibson has been dismissed from ‘Criminal Minds,’” ABC Studios and CBS said in a statement Friday. “Creative details for how the character’s exit will be addressed in the show will be announced at a later date.” The firing came in the wake of an initial suspension, and it was said there had been other issues with Gibson in years past.
He says in his own statement, “I love ‘Criminal Minds’ and have put my heart and soul into it for the last twelve 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.”
A few fans of the show are angry with the actor for the impact his actions will now have on the series. “So Thomas Gibson had to go off and be a fool and ruin my favorite show,” one person tweeted. Another user said, “What a jackass #ThomasGibson is. Such a successful gig and he sabotages it. Crazy. Imagine if he had to work a REAL job!?”
Several more fans are questioning the future of the CBS drama now that the main character will be gone. One person wrote, “Not sure will criminal minds can survive with out Thomas Gibson but we shall see. I hope so anyways,” while another expressed, “The loss of #ThomasGibson, I predict, will be the end of [the show].” A different individual similarly wrote, “Thomas Gibson being fired from Criminal Minds all but means the show is kinda dunzo.”
There were many other Twitter users, however, who felt Gibson got what he deserved for kicking one of his colleagues. One person noted, “Thomas Gibson just proved that no one is indispensable. His loss. You don’t physically assault ANYONE!” Another user said, “Good. This guy makes me so mad. WHO KICKS PEOPLE AT WORK!?” Meanwhile, one viewer extended “kudos to @CBS for not allowing him to be abusive to crew,” while another pointed out, “If I kicked somebody I worked with, I’d be fired too. It’s as simple as that.”
