Thomas Gibson fired from Criminal Minds
Thomas Gibson plays agent Aaron Hotchner in Criminal Minds CBS

Thomas Gibson made his final appearance as Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner in Criminal Minds season 12 episode 2 titled, Sick Day. The actor was fired from the show following on-set altercation with writer-producer Virgil Williams.

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The 54-year-old actor was barely seen in this Wednesday's episode, as it focused heavily on Jennifer "J.J." Jareau (played by A.J. Cook). In his last scene on the show, Gibson had a little chat with an emotional JJ and asked her to take a break from work.

Hotchner told JJ, "I want you to take some time off, at least a week. It's not a request," and walks away. The promo and synopsis for the upcoming episode features the return of Paget Brewster as Agent Emily Prentiss, with no mention of Hotchner's whereabouts.

Click here to watch Hotch's final episode on Criminal Minds online on CBS Network (Only in US).

Watch Hotch's final scene in Criminal Minds below:

Criminal Minds season 12 episode 3 is titled, Taboo, which will air on 12 October at 9pm EST on CBS Network. The official synopsis reads as follows:

The BAU welcomes back Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) as they are called upon to investigate the disappearance of three women, on Criminal Minds.

CBS Previously announced in a statement "Creative details for how [Gibson's] character's exit will be addressed in the show will be announced at a later date."

Gibson had previously opened up about incident that got him fired from CBS's crime series. He told People, "We were shooting a scene late one night when I went to Virgil and told him there was a line that I thought contradicted an earlier line. He said, 'Sorry, it's necessary, and I absolutely have to have it.'"

The actor, who has been in the show since 2005, added, "He came into that room and started coming towards me. As he brushed past me, my foot came up and tapped him on the leg. If I hadn't moved, he would have run into me. 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."