“Criminal Minds” star Paget Brewster told off a ScreenRant TV critic for writing a negative article about the long-running series.
“Hello critic Shealynn Scott,” Brewster began her since-deleted X post on Saturday, calling out the article’s author, Shealyn Scott, directly — though misspelling her name. “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,” the the 57-year-old actress added. “Because right now you suck.”
In Scott’s article from Saturday, titled “Paramount+’s Criminal Minds Format Change Finally Backfires,” she called out some of the show’s “downgrades,” including the reduced episode order.
“Though logical in theory, the shortened seasons are unfortunately working against ‘Criminal Minds’’ greatest strengths,” Scott wrote, in part.
The article’s main image was of Brewster’s character, FBI agent Emily Prentiss, whom she’s portrayed since 2006.
Brewster’s post sparked backlash from fans and other journalists, including Scott’s colleague, ScreenRant senior writer/interviewer Andy Behbakht.
“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,” Behbakht wrote back to Brewster on X.
“I stand by my colleague, and you owe her an apology,” he added.
Meanwhile, ScreenRant’s branding, PR and editorial director, Rob Keyes, noted on X that Scott’s article “wasn’t even a review,” but rather “a feature about how the show would benefit from more episodes due to its storytelling.”
Following the backlash, Brewster deleted her post and apologized the next day.
“Hi guys, I was mean to Shealyn Scott last night and I profoundly regret it,” she wrote on Sunday. “Shame on me for insulting a human being for doing their job.”
“I’m very sorry, Shealyn,” Brewster continued. “And I’m sorry to those who follow me that you saw me behave like that. Turns out, last night, I sucked.”
Scott, in her own post, confirmed Brewster “also reached out privately to apologize to me.”
“‘Criminal Minds’ is still one of my all-time favorite shows, and I’m very excited to continue covering s19 (and hopefully beyond!),” Scott added.
“Criminal Minds” has been on the air since 2005.
After Season 15 concluded in CBS in 2020, the show moved to Paramount+ in 2022 under the new title, “Criminal Minds: Evolution.”
The series is currently in its 19th season and was renewed for Season 20 in March.
