In 2018, Pauley Perrette, known for her role as Abby Sciuto on NCIS, left the show after an impressive 15-year run. Abby was adored by fans for her unique Gothic style and vibrant attitude. However, her departure came as a surprise to many, and it left fans wondering about the reasons behind her exit.
On the show, her character, Abby, resigned following an assassination attempt. Still, it was widely reported that her real departure was the result of a falling out with the series lead, Mark Harmon. Reports suggest that the two stars had several behind-the-scenes clashes in 2016. The disputes reportedly began after Mark Harmon brought his dog to the set, which resulted in a crew member being bitten and needing 15 stitches. Significantly, during Pauley’s emotional final episode, she did not share the screen with Mark Harmon. Instead, Abby said her goodbyes to her other colleagues at NCIS HQ and left a letter for Gibbs, watching from the street as he read it.
Following the episode’s broadcast, Pauley took to Twitter to share a series of vague tweets that appeared to reference the incident. She expressed her reluctance to publicly reveal what happened, saying, “I refused to go low, that’s why I’ve never told publicly what happened. But there are tabloid articles out there that are telling total lies about me.” In subsequent tweets, she alluded to the existence of a “machine” keeping her silent, spreading false stories about her, and pointed to workplace concerns, including physical assaults.
At the time of her departure, CBS issued a statement acknowledging Pauley Perrette’s workplace concerns, affirming their commitment to a safe work environment, and expressing their appreciation for her time on NCIS.
In 2019, when fans wondered if she would ever return to NCIS, Pauley clarified on Twitter that she would not be coming back due to fear of Mark Harmon and the nightmares associated with the situation. She announced that she had a new show and described it as a “safe and happy” environment, reassuring her fans about her well-being.
After her NCIS exit, Pauley Perrette appeared in the CBS sitcom “Broke,” playing the lead role. Unfortunately, the show was canceled after just one season. In 2020, the actress officially retired from acting.
Pauley Perrette’s departure from NCIS was surrounded by controversies, and her statements on social media shed some light on the circumstances that led to her decision to leave the show.