‘Criminal Minds: Evolution’ Star Paget Brewster Fires Back at Critic Over Mixed Review

Criminal Minds: Evolution star Paget Brewster has apologized after facing backlash for comments she made about a television critic who published a mixed review of the Paramount+ series.

The controversy began after ScreenRant writer Shealyn Scott shared an article discussing some of the changes made to Criminal Minds since it moved from network television to streaming. While Scott praised certain aspects of the revival, she also expressed concerns about some of the show’s creative decisions.

Brewster, who plays Emily Prentiss in the long-running franchise, reacted strongly to the review on social media. In a post that was later deleted, the actress directly addressed Scott and criticized her work.

“Hello critic Shealynn Scott. 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 comments quickly attracted attention online and sparked criticism from journalists, critics and fans. Many felt Brewster’s response crossed a line by targeting a reviewer for sharing her opinion about a television series.

Among those who responded was The Hollywood Reporter chief film critic David Rooney. He criticized Brewster’s remarks and defended Scott’s review.

“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 wrote.

ScreenRant writer Andy Behbakht also spoke out in support of his colleague. He called Brewster’s comments inappropriate and argued that no journalist should be personally attacked for doing their job.

Following the growing backlash, Brewster returned to social media the next day with a public apology. The actress admitted that her reaction was wrong and expressed regret for how she handled the situation.

“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 review that sparked the debate focused on how Criminal Minds changed after its original run ended on CBS. The series concluded in 2020 before being revived by Paramount+ in 2022 under the new title Criminal Minds: Evolution.

In her article, Scott acknowledged that the streaming version introduced several successful changes, including a darker tone and more creative freedom. However, she also argued that some adjustments have not benefited the show.

“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.

One of her main criticisms focused on the shorter episode count. According to Scott, the new 10-episode format does not always allow the series to showcase the strengths that helped make the original show successful for so many years.

While the disagreement sparked a heated discussion online, Brewster’s apology appears to have helped calm the situation. The incident has also reignited conversations about the relationship between performers and critics, and how public figures respond to reviews in the social media era.

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