Paget Brewster Apologizes After Social Media Clash With Critic Over ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’

Paget Brewster has issued an apology following backlash from a heated social media exchange with a TV critic who reviewed ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’. The actress acknowledged that her response was excessive and expressed regret for attacking someone simply doing their job.

The controversy ignited when Brewster reacted to a review by ScreenRant’s Shealyn Scott. Scott’s article examined the changes made to ‘Criminal Minds’ after its transition from CBS to Paramount+ as ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’.

Brewster, who portrays Emily Prentiss in the series, criticized Scott’s review in a now-deleted post on X. She conveyed her frustration, arguing that negative reviews could impact the crew working on the show.

“Hello critic Shealynn Scott,” Brewster wrote. “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.”

Her comments quickly attracted criticism from industry peers and journalists who deemed Brewster’s response as unjust. Many critics defended Scott, asserting that reviewing television is a vital part of the entertainment landscape, even when the feedback is negative.

David Rooney, chief film critic at The Hollywood Reporter, responded to Brewster’s remarks, suggesting that the incident reflected poorly on her.

“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?!” Rooney commented.

Andy Behbakht, a senior writer at ScreenRant, also defended his colleague, condemning Brewster’s reaction and calling for an apology.

“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 stated.

As the criticism intensified, Brewster returned to X on Sunday to apologize. She recognized that her comments were inappropriate and accepted responsibility for her actions.

“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,” Brewster expressed.

The original review that sparked the discussion highlighted how ‘Criminal Minds’ evolved after its shift to streaming. Scott pointed out that the Paramount+ version features a different tone, including a TV-MA rating, shorter seasons, and new characters.

In her article, Scott noted that while many fans have embraced the changes, some decisions have polarized viewers.

“Plenty of the continuation’s changes have been received warmly, and ‘Criminal Minds’ unquestionably still works as a gripping crime drama, but there are just as many tweaks that feel more like downgrades,” Scott wrote.

‘Criminal Minds’ originally concluded its CBS run in 2020 before making a comeback on Paramount+ in 2022 as ‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’. The revival featured several familiar faces, including Brewster and Joe Mantegna, while introducing a new format for the beloved crime drama.

With Brewster’s apology, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about the dynamics between actors, critics, and online interactions within the entertainment industry.

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