When a hit show suddenly writes out two beloved female characters, fans smell something darker than a ratings blip. That’s exactly what happened when A.J. Cook (JJ) and Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss) were abruptly removed from Criminal Minds over a decade ago — and both exits still fuel debate today. Was it budget or bad faith? Did a network exec really demand “new women”? As the revival Criminal Minds: Evolution keeps the franchise alive, the ghosts of that shakeup keep whispering: was sexism — or just ruthless TV math — to blame?
In 2010, Criminal Minds viewers were blindsided. Without warning, two of the show’s cornerstone women — A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster — were told their time was up. Official statements from CBS spoke about “creative changes” and “budgetary reasons,” but the explanations felt hollow.
Cook’s contract wasn’t renewed, and Brewster’s character was written out entirely.
Fans refused to accept it quietly. Online petitions surged, hashtags trended, and Criminal Minds’ once-loyal audience turned furious. Some even mailed props and fan art to CBS headquarters as protest. The outrage wasn’t just about losing favorite characters — it was about how easily strong, intelligent women were dismissed from one of TV’s most successful procedurals.
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