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Criminal Minds’ A.J. Cook stirred up some drama when she cast her own sons in the show. Yep, nepotism allegations made their way into the mix, and Cook wasn’t about to just brush it off. The actress faced some serious heat for bringing her kids on set, but hey, this is Hollywood, where keeping it in the family isn’t exactly rare.
Cook defended her decision, making it clear she was just a mom trying to share her world with her kids. Guess she wasn’t too worried about those accusations!
A.J. Cook defends casting her sons inCriminal Minds: No nepotism, just family
A.J. Cook wasn’t about to let any nepotism allegations stop her from casting her own sons inCriminal Minds. When it came time to cast JJ’s kids, Mekhai and Phoenix, Cook’s real-life sons naturally took center stage. It wasn’t some master plan; it just sort of happened.
Mekhai first appeared as JJ’s son back in Season 7 during a bank heist episode. From there, it snowballed, and Phoenix eventually joined in. For Cook, it was a special experience, documenting her kids’ lives for the world to see.She explained,
You know, it’s the weirdest thing, isn’t it? Like, it’s so unique. And you know, I don’t even really know how it happened. Well, with Mekhai, my firstborn, they had a scene with JJ, Will, and the baby. I think they just came to me and said, “Hey, how do you feel about using Mekhai for this?” And I was like, “Oh, okay. Sure!” It just sort of evolved from there.
Cook continued,
Then, he got that one episode, in Season 7, where he gets kidnapped — [Season 7, Episode 23: “Hit”] the bank heist episode. He was so cute. He did such a good job in it. And it sort of evolved even more from there. Then, I had another kid.
And then, they asked, “Well, do you mind using Phoenix for that as well?” It’s been something that’s really special for us as a family because I have my kids’ lives documented in a way. And to have that, forever, is something that I’m grateful for. It’s really special…
Fast-forward to theCriminal Mindsreboot, and those same kids had grown up fast. Mekhai was 14, towering at 5’11” with muscles to match. It was a walking timeline of the show for fans who had followed the BAU squad for over a decade.
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As for A.J. Cook, returning to her iconic role as Agent JJ felt like coming home. After a long hiatus, the reunion with the cast — especially after COVID — was emotional. They had been apart for three years, but stepping back onto familiar sets made it feel like they’d never left. New crew, same family vibes. It was nostalgic, to say the least.
Zach Gilford shares shocking health update after facial swelling scare
Zach Gilford, star ofCriminal Minds: Evolution,updated fans on his health after sharing photosof a shocking facial swelling. The actor posted a series of three Instagram Stories, showing his face progressively more swollen.
The first photo revealed his left side so puffed up that his eye was shut, with Gilford joking,“Soooo yesterday was fun.”By the second snap, his entire face was affected, including his right eye, as he quipped,“Good thing we wrapped Criminal Minds last week.”
By the third, Gilford’s face was nearly back to normal. He thanked the medical team at Huntington Hospital for their help.
Criminal Minds: Mandy Patinkin and Thomas Gibson’s Exit Overshadows Another Star Who Quit for Another Show That Got Nearly Canceled Twice
Criminal Mindsis available to watch on Hulu & Apple TV.
Heena Singh
Editor | Former Senior Writer
Articles Published :1457
Heena Singh is a Editor at FandomWire, spent the last two years making waves in entertainment journalism. With a knack for digging up blockbuster celebrity scoops and an uncanny nose for the latest buzz, Heena’s articles bring a fresh and fun perspective to life. When she’s not conquering writing challenges, you’ll find her curled up in bed, peacefully sleeping.
