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"Criminal Minds showrunner Erica Messer has defended the decision to axe Rachel Nichols (Ashley Seaver) from the series. Messer previously denied that Nichols was facing the axe, but it was later confirmed that the actress will not return as a series regular for the upcoming seventh season. &amp;quot;It wasn&amp;#039;t an easy decision and it took a village to make it,&amp;quot; the executive producer told TV Guide. &amp;quot;[But] having eight characters on Criminal Minds seemed unlikely.&amp;quot; Nichols, who first appeared in the sixth season&amp;#039;s tenth episode, was described as &amp;quot;a real trouper and a pro&amp;quot;.  &amp;quot;She walked into an incredibly difficult position and handled it with grace,&amp;quot; said Messer. &amp;quot;The cast felt she fit in... and she will be missed by all of us who worked with her everyday.&amp;quot; Messer also refused to confirm if Nichols will appear in the CBS drama&amp;#039;s seventh run to wrap up her character&amp;#039;s storyline. &amp;quot;As storytellers we hate leaving threads undone,&amp;quot; she said. &amp;quot;Creatively, there&amp;#039;s more to explore there [but] I won&amp;#039;t know for a bit if [her return is] a possibility.&amp;quot; Addressing the situation on Twitter, Conan star Nichols claimed that she is &amp;quot;really sad&amp;quot; to have been axed from the show. &amp;quot;[It was] certainly not my choice,&amp;quot; she wrote. &amp;quot;Such a heartbreaker, and I learned the awful truth via the Internet while on vacation!&amp;quot; Criminal Minds&amp;#039; seventh season will air on Wednesdays at 9/8c on CBS in the fall. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/news/a322277/criminal-minds-boss-defends-rachel-nichols-axe/>