The Real Reason Pauley Perrette Left NCIS
The CBS show NCIS is massively popular all around the world. Ever since the JAG spin-off debuted in 2003, millions of people have tuned in to see what will happen next (via IMDb).
Like any long-running series, NCIS has also experienced its fair share of cast dismissals and shake-ups. And like any long-running series' fan base, the people who love NCIS always want to know why a specific actor chose to leave the show.
Pauley Perrette surprised fans when she walked away from NCIS in 2018 after playing Abby Sciuto for 15 seasons (via Country Living). At first, it seemed like Perrette made a career choice that wasn't filled with inter-cast drama ... but then some seriously confusing stories about her relationship with her co-star, Mark Harmon, started to emerge.
The problems reportedly began back in 2016, when Harmon brought his dog to work. According to The Wrap, the dog bit a crew member (who ended up needing 15 stitches). Sources told The Wrap that Harmon brought the dog back on set after the incident, which made some people uncomfortable. (Per Vanity Fair, Harmon's attorney disputes the claim that he continued to bring his dog to work.) Perrette allegedly stepped in to try to make things better for the rest of the cast and crew.
Why Pauley Perrette confronted Mark Harmon
According to The Wrap, tensions escalated between the two actors after the incident, forcing the show to schedule the stars so that they never had to be in the same room.
An insider told The Wrap, "She did her scenes on one day and he did his work on other days, and they still produced a great show. It was simply scheduled that they did not work the same days."
CBS didn't directly address the incident, but the company did release a general statement to media outlets in response to a series of tweets that Perrette sent out. The statement from CBS reads, "Pauley Perrette had a terrific run on NCIS and we are all going to miss her. Over a year ago, Pauley came to us with a workplace concern. We took the matter seriously and worked with her to find a resolution. We are committed to a safe work environment on all of our shows."