Pauley Perrette’s departure from NCIS in 2018 after 15 years on the show took fans by surprise, especially since her character, Abby Sciuto, had become a beloved fixture of the series. Abby, with her distinct Gothic style and vibrant personality, won over audiences, making Pauley one of the most popular actresses in U.S. primetime television at the time. So, what prompted her exit, and what has she said about it? Here’s a deeper dive into the reasons behind her departure and what transpired afterward.
Pauley’s exit occurred at the end of NCIS’s 15th season. On the show, Abby leaves after surviving an assassination attempt, but behind the scenes, reports suggest that the true reason for Pauley’s departure was a growing tension between her and the series’ lead, Mark Harmon. Multiple sources claim that their relationship began to deteriorate in 2016, particularly after an incident in which Harmon’s dog bit a crew member, requiring 15 stitches. Following this, tensions between the two stars continued to rise, ultimately leading to a breakdown in their working relationship.
This backstage drama was reflected in Abby’s final episode, where Pauley and Mark’s characters did not share any scenes. Instead, Abby says goodbye to her colleagues at NCIS, leaving a letter for Harmon’s character, Gibbs, which he reads from a distance. The lack of interaction between the two actors in her last episode only fueled speculation, adding more weight to the rumors about their strained dynamic.
After the episode aired, Pauley took to Twitter, posting a series of cryptic messages that seemed to allude to the situation. One tweet read, “I refused to go low, that’s why I’ve never publicly shared what happened. But there are tabloid articles out there spreading total lies about
