'Criminal Minds' Spoilers, Updates: Show Finally Explains Character Aaron Hotchner's Fate After Actor Thomas Gibson Exits Series

"Criminal Minds" star Thomas Gibson was reportedly fired last summer. This is the reason why his character, Aaron Hotchner, made no appearance on the series' Wednesday episode.

To recall, Gibson was suspended after kicking "Criminal Minds" writer Virgil Williams. Officials of CBS' police procedural series then decided to formally let Gibson go. Last October 10, Gibson opened up to People about the incident and said that the kick was not intentional.

The actor admitted that he felt hurt about the incident. "I feel like it took years to make a good reputation and a minute to damage it," Gibson said. He also shared about what really happened during that day. Gibson recalls that "[Williams] came into that room and started coming towards [him]. As [Williams] brushed past [Gibson], [his] foot came up and tapped [Williams] on the leg."

"We had some choice words, for which I apologized the next day, and that was it. It was over. We shot the scene, I went home - and I never got to go back," he added. On "Criminal Minds" next episodes, UPI said that Hotchner had an assignment that needed him to be away for a while. Meanwhile, character David Rossi (portrayed by Joe Mantegna, Jr.) told the Behavioral Analysis Unit that Hotchner needed to undergo witness protection program in a case which involved serial killer Peter Lewis (Bodhi Elfman).

According to Entertainment Online, Rossi's lines were "Peter Lewis is not going to stop, which is why Hotch and Jack have entered the program." This is not the only element that will change in "Criminal Minds" run, though. Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) goes back to BAU as the new unit chief. Following Gibson's exit, Brewster was originally included as a guest star but was then turned into a regular cast; Adam Rodriguez also joined the roster and Aisha Tyler was made into a regular in the series.