The Reason For That Ugly AJ Cook Exit From Criminal Minds? Studio's Sexism
Thankfully, she then returned to the show, and this marks a one-in-a-million precedent of justice prevailing over a corporation's greed.
For those who haven't had the privilege of watching Criminal Minds from the very beginning, they probably have no idea that AJ Cook, who portrays one of the main characters in the series, JJ, took a break during season 6 of the show.
While some of the viewers noticed it and thought it was a case of sick leave or something else related to the actress' personal life, others did not pay much attention to it at all.
However, the break wasn't really a break at all. AJ Cook, along with her co-star Paget Brewster, who plays Emily Prentiss, was fired from the show after season 5, and there was a pretty good chance that she wouldn't come back at all.
This news was surprising at the time, not only to the actresses themselves but to the entire cast and crew of Criminal Minds.
There had been no previous problems with her performance, nor had there been any recent arguments that could have influenced the decision in any way.
The official reason given to the public later was financial cuts needed to keep the show afloat. This was later proven to be false. To say that everyone was devastated by the news would be an understatement.
The actresses themselves gave interviews expressing their grief, comparing the sudden termination of their contracts to the heartbreak of a sudden breakup.
The cast openly disagreed with the decision. Even executive producer Ed Bernero, who left the show of his own accord after season 6, revealed how he fought for both AJ Cook and Paget Brewster to come back.
And it happened, but much to the studio's shame, the sickening truth behind the actress' departure surfaced years later.
As Brewster recounted in her 2015 interview with The A.V. Club, her and Cook's firing had nothing to do with a low-budget casting, as they hired another leading lady with a paycheck larger than their payments combined.
"It's a network that's not particularly kind to women. That's why a lot of women leave those procedurals. Or are fired," the actress noted.
Both Cook and Brewster found their way back to Criminal Minds thanks to overwhelming fan support.
However, this case opened up a serious conversation about women's precarious position in the industry and the unfair pay that often ends up being used against them.
Source: The A.V. Club