Criminal Minds Star Earns the Internet’s Ire, Telling the Writer She “Sucks” Before Apologizing
Not a good look.
Paget Brewster is apologizing after her X outburst against a Criminal Minds critic sparked a wave of backlash. The actress, who plays Emily Prentiss on the long-running procedural, deleted a post where she told ScreenRant writer Shealyn Scott that she “sucks” and should “work at a shelter” instead of critiquing the show. The next day, Brewster posted a public apology, calling her behavior “mean” and admitting she was wrong to insult someone for doing their job.
The drama kicked off when Scott published an article analyzing how Criminal Minds has changed since moving from CBS to Paramount+. Her review wasn’t a scathing takedown. She acknowledged the show still works as a gripping crime drama but pointed out that the shift to shorter, 10-episode seasons has created pacing issues.
According to USA Today, Scott wrote that while the Paramount+ version probably doesn’t need 20 episodes a year like the CBS era, the new format doesn’t give the story enough room to breathe. She also noted other tweaks, like the TV-MA rating allowing for more heated language from characters like Rossi and Prentiss, and the addition of new cast members like Tyler Green.
Brewster didn’t take the critique well
In her now-deleted X post, she called out Scott by name, saying, “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.” The response from other journalists was swift and harsh.
According to Variety, David Rooney, chief film critic, The Hollywood Reporter, said Brewster’s attack made her look thin-skinned, especially since Scott’s review was respectful and well-informed. Rooney wrote, “This is a very bad look. An actor on a long-running show attacking a young reviewer who contextualizes her respectful criticisms with obvious knowledge of the material – says way more about u being thin-skinned than it does about her professionalism. ‘Work at a shelter,’ really?!”
ScreenRant’s Andy Behbakht also jumped in, calling Brewster’s behavior “disgusting” and “tragic.” He wrote, “This is disgusting behavior on your part, 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.”
The backlash wasn’t limited to just a few voices. Entertainment journalists across the industry piled on. Ben Dreyfuss summed it up well, saying that while artists should be open to criticism, “the deal with making art is that you are open to criticism.”
Brewster’s apology came the next day
She wrote, “Hi guys, I was mean to Shealyn Scott last night and I profoundly regret it. 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.” The apology didn’t just stay on X. ScreenRant’s editorial director, Rob Keyes, confirmed that Brewster’s team sent a personal note to Scott, and the showrunner even reached out directly.
Keyes told USA Today that while criticism of their work is fair game, “personal attacks on individual writers are neither productive nor warranted, especially when amplified to a large audience across social media.” He also noted that much of the reaction to the situation mischaracterized Scott’s article, which was far from a hate piece.
This isn’t the first time Criminal Minds has been at the center of controversy over its format changes
The show originally aired on CBS for 15 seasons before moving to Paramount+ in 2022 under the new title Criminal Minds: Evolution. The shift to streaming brought a lot of adjustments, from the shorter seasons to the TV-MA rating, which lets the show include more mature language and themes.
Some fans and critics have embraced the changes, while others, like Scott, feel the new format undercuts what made the show great in the first place. The show’s 19th season just wrapped up in July, and Paramount+ has already renewed it for a 20th season, so it’s clear the network is committed to keeping the franchise alive – even if not everyone is happy with how it’s evolving.
Brewster has been with Criminal Minds since the second season in 2006, making her one of the show’s longest-running cast members. Outside of the procedural, she’s also known for her roles in Community and F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Her outburst and subsequent apology highlight a bigger issue in the entertainment industry: the tension between creators and critics.
While it’s understandable that actors and showrunners might feel protective of their work, lashing out at journalists – especially those who approach their critiques with respect and knowledge – rarely ends well. Brewster’s apology suggests she recognizes that, even if her initial reaction was fueled by frustration.
For Scott, the experience was likely a tough one
Being publicly called out by a cast member of a show you’ve written about, especially in such a personal way, isn’t something any journalist signs up for. But the support she received from her colleagues and the broader media community shows that most people recognize the difference between fair criticism and unfair attacks.
At the end of the day, this whole situation serves as a reminder that criticism is part of the job for anyone in the public eye. Whether you’re an actor, a writer, or a showrunner, not everyone is going to love what you do, and that’s okay. As for Criminal Minds, the show will keep evolving, and critics will keep weighing in. Here’s hoping the next round of reviews gets a more measured response.
(Featured image: Michael Yarish/Paramount+)
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