Criminal Minds’ longtime star Paget Brewster has issued an apology after facing backlash for attacking a TV critic online.
In a since-deleted X post, Brewster, who stars as Special Agent Emily Prentiss on the popular crime drama’s ongoing reboot, Criminal Minds: Evolution, called out ScreenRant journalist Shealyn Scott over her recent piece titled, “Paramount+’s Criminal Minds Format Change Finally Backfires.”
“Hello critic Shealynn Scott [sic],” Brewster, 57, wrote Saturday in the now-removed post. “You’re young. You don’t know that bad pics and bad reviews can lead to 350 people losing their jobs. Sell vintage. Work at a shelter. Do something better than what you do now. Because right now you suck.”
Several reporters, including Scott’s colleague, senior ScreenRant writer Andy Behbakht, leaped to her defense.
“This is disgusting behavior on your part,” Behbakht commented, “and really tragic to see you tearing down a young female journalist whom you are literally telling that she ‘sucks’ and that she shouldn’t be in the field that she is in. I stand by my colleague, and you owe her an apology.”
open image in gallery
open image in galleryOn Sunday night, Brewster released an apology on X. “Hi guys, I was mean to Shealyn Scott last night and I profoundly regret it,” she said. “Shame on me for insulting a human being for doing their job. I’m very sorry, Shealyn. And I’m sorry to those who follow me that you saw me behave like that. Turns out, last night, I sucked.”
Scott’s article included detailed criticism of the significant changes the show has undergone since its 2022 revival on Paramount+.
The original series — centered on an elite squad of FBI profilers that analyze some of the country’s most twisted criminal minds — ran for 15 seasons on CBS from 2005 to 2020 and followed a procedural format. The reboot, however, adopts a serialized format with storylines unfolding across an entire season. The number of episodes per season has also been reduced to 10.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day
New subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.
ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day
New subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.
ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Brewster first joined Criminal Minds in 2006, replacing Lola Glaudini’s Elle Greenway. After several years, she briefly departed the show in its sixth season due to “budget cuts.” She made a brief return in season seven before leaving yet again and finally coming back for good in season nine. She returned for the reboot, alongside fellow cast members Joe Mantegna, Kirsten Vangsness, A. J. Cook, Adam Rodriguez and Aisha Tyler.
Brewster is also known for appearing on Friends as Kathy, Chandler’s (Matthew Perry) brief fling, whom he steals away from Joey (Matt LeBlanc) in season four.
Criminal Minds: Evolution is available to stream on Paramount+.