Criminal Minds type TV Show network CBS genre Crime

Criminal Minds actor Thomas Gibson has been suspended from the long-running CBS crime drama following a physical altercation with a writer-producer.

The actor allegedly kicked one of the scribes recently during a disagreement over the show’s creative direction, EW has confirmed. A source with knowledge of the situation told EW that Gibson “instinctively” booted the other man in the shin after an argument escalated.

“There were creative differences on the set and a disagreement,” Gibson said in a statement released to EW. “I regret that it occurred. 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 his suspension from playing Special Agent Aaron Hotchner, Gibson will no longer direct an episode in the show’s upcoming 12th season. The show reportedly remains in production while Gibson’s future with the series is “under review,” according to Deadline, which first reported the news.

It’s unclear when Gibson will return to work. A rep for ABC Studios, which co-produces the drama with CBS Studios, would not comment.

This may not be the first time that Gibson has engaged in troubling behavior on set. Both Deadline and TMZ are reporting that he previously pushed an assistant director in 2010 and underwent anger management classes as a result.

Gibson has played a key part of the drama since it premiered in 2005.

On-set conflicts are not only a public relations nightmare but can sometimes lead to termination. In the third season of Grey’s Anatomy, Isaiah Washington had insulted co-star T.R. Knight with a homophobic slur. Though it appeared the situation was resolved when Washington issued an apology for his “unfortunate use of words,” the situation was exacerbated at the Golden Globes later when he said, “No, I did not call T.R. a f—-t.” In June that year, ABC announced that it would not renew Washington’s contract, and he would be dropped from the show (though he did return in 2014 to help close out Sandra Oh’s storyline).