The actress left the show in 2018 after being a part of it for 15 years.Abby Sciuto, who was portrayed by Pauley Perrette, was definitely one of the most loved characters on NCIS, and saying that is really an understatement.
The forensic scientist became a favorite among fans because of her unique Gothic fashion style, which was a fun contrast to her always cheerful personality. At one time, Pauley was one of the biggest stars on US primetime TV. So, what made her decide to leave the show, and what has she shared about her departure? Keep reading to find out more!
Pauley’s departure at the end of season 15 of NCIS surprised many fans. In the show, her character decided to leave after an assassination attempt, but sources say the real reason was a disagreement with Mark Harmon, the lead actor.
The two reportedly had several arguments behind the scenes in 2016 after Mark’s dog bit a crew member, causing serious injuries that required 15 stitches. Interestingly, during Pauley’s emotional last episode, she and Mark didn’t share any scenes together. Instead, Abby said goodbye to her other coworkers at NCIS HQ and left a letter for Gibbs, watching him read it from outside.
Pauley played Abby Sciuto in the CBS series.
After the episode aired, Pauley posted some vague messages on Twitter that seemed to hint at the situation. One tweet said, “I chose not to go low, which is why I haven’t shared what really happened. But there are tabloids spreading lies about me. If you believe them, please just leave me alone. You don’t really know me. (Had to say it).”
The next day, she tweeted again: “Maybe I’m wrong for not sharing the truth. I feel like I need to protect my crew and their jobs. But at what cost? I’m not sure. Just know I’m trying to do the right thing, but maybe staying quiet isn’t the best choice. I’m… Just… ?”
Pauley and Mark reportedly had several conflicts behind the scenes.
She went on to say, “There’s a ‘machine’ that’s keeping me quiet and spreading LIES about me. It’s a really wealthy and powerful publicity ‘machine’. They have no morals and don’t care about the truth, and I’m just here reading all these false stories, trying to protect my team and stay calm. He did it.” Perrette wrapped up her tweets with a final message: “I’ve always supported anti-bullying programs, but now I truly understand because it happened to ME! If it’s a place you have to go, like school or work, it’s terrifying. I left because of multiple physical assaults. I really get it now. Stay safe. Your safety is the most important thing. Talk to someone.”
At that time, CBS released a statement saying, “Pauley Perrette had a fantastic time on NCIS, and we will all miss her. Over a year ago, Pauley came to us with a concern about the workplace. We took it seriously and worked with her to find a solution. We are dedicated to ensuring a safe work environment on all our shows.”
In 2019, Pauley took to Twitter again after getting a lot of messages from confused and upset fans asking if she would return to her popular role. She tweeted, “NO, I AM NOT COMING BACK! EVER! (Please stop asking?) I’m scared of Harmon and what he might do to me. I have nightmares about it. I have a new show that is SAFE AND HAPPY! You’re going to love it! #HappyPlace Love you all!”
Pauley also sent out another tweet, which has since been deleted, where she claimed she was “physically assaulted” while trying to “protect” her fellow crew members.
After leaving, Pauley decided not to look for other TV roles but did come back to star in the CBS sitcom Broke, where she played the main character. Unfortunately, the show was canceled after just one season, and in 2020, she announced that she had officially retired from acting.
