Paget Brewster came under fire after attacking critic Shealyn Scott over a mixed review of Criminal Minds: Evolution, then returned to X on Sunday to apologize—after deleting the original post and admitting she went too far.
Paget Brewster didn’t just disagree with a review of Criminal Minds: Evolution—she turned it into a public dressing down.
The actress addressed ScreenRant critic Shealyn Scott directly after Scott’s piece on the Paramount+ revival. Brewster wrote on X, “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. ” before adding. “Sell vintage. Work at a shelter. Do something better than what you do now. Because right now you suck.”.
Backlash hit fast. Other critics and writers rallied to support Scott, while also calling out Brewster’s rude remarks. The online backlash ultimately led Brewster to delete the original post.
Her outburst centered on a review that wasn’t purely negative. Scott praised several aspects of Criminal Minds: Evolution while expressing concerns about one change the show made after moving from network television to Paramount+: the shift to a shorter ten-episode season. Scott’s critique focused on that format change and the broader industry trend toward shorter seasons. rather than attacking the series itself.
On Sunday, Brewster returned to X with a public apology. “Hi guys, I was mean to Shealyn Scott last night and I profoundly regret it,” she wrote. “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 said she regretted the comments and described them as a heat-of-the-moment reaction.
Criminal Minds originally aired its fifteenth and final season on CBS in 2020. Paramount+ revived the procedural drama in 2022 under the title Criminal Minds: Evolution. Brewster has played Emily Prentiss since joining the cast in the show’s second season back in 2006. and she returned for the streaming relaunch. Overall, the show is now in its nineteenth season.
The streaming era brought major differences from the CBS run. including a TV-MA rating that allows Prentiss and David Rossi occasional strong language. new main cast members including Tyler Green. and a move to shorter episode counts per season. Those changes have divided longtime fans—some embracing the streaming format. others missing the longer seasons that defined the network years.
For now, Brewster’s focus is back on the job—after a review-driven flare-up that briefly turned fandom and criticism into something much uglier.
Paget Brewster Shealyn Scott Criminal Minds: Evolution ScreenRant X apology Paramount+ Criminal Minds Emily Prentiss Tyler Green David Rossi