"Criminal Minds", a renowned police drama on CBS, maintained an extended 15-season run until its last episode on February 19, 2020. AJ Cook, who starred in 14 of those seasons, made an abrupt and shocking exit from the storyline. Though officially cited as "creative differences" and financial setbacks at the studio, many doubted CBS's given explanation for Cook's sudden departure in 2010. Kirsten Vangsness, Cook’s co-star, voiced her astonishment and displeasure over Cook's dismissal. She expressed her disapproval and shared the collective heartbreak of the cast as a close-knit family. Moreover, AJ Cook herself seemed confused by the situation, comparing it to a sudden breakup in a 2011 conversation with TV Guide. Interestingly, Paget Brewster, another co-star, was also fired the same year Cook left. Unlike Cook, she openly claimed that they were unfairly treated and was unafraid to express her bitterness over the improper dismissal. In a 2015 interview with The AV Club, Brewster firmly stated that their firings had nothing to do with budget cuts, but rather a trend wherein the network was unkind to its women stars.