Season 15 of ‘NCIS’ witnesses one of the pivotal moments in the history of the show, the departure of NCIS Forensic Specialist Abby Sciuto. In episode 22 of the season, following the death of agent Reeves, Abby informs her crew that she is going to London to make arrangements for Reeves’ funeral and initiate a charity in his mother’s honor, just as he wished. Upon sharing an emotional farewell with her team, Abby leaves. Naturally, you must be curious about Pauley Perrette’s departure from ‘NCIS’ and her life after exiting the thriller show. Here’s everything we know!
Why Did Pauley Perrette Leave NCIS?
In October 2017, Pauley Perrette announced that she was leaving ‘NCIS’ in the wake of numerous rumors. Even though Perrette didn’t explicitly reveal the reason behind her decision, she added that no issues existed between her and the show or the network. But in May 2018, Perrette revealed that she had been hiding the truth behind her exit for the sake of her crew members.
So it is true that I am leaving NCIS…
There have been all kinds of false rumors as to why (NO I DON'T HAVE A SKIN CARE LINE… pic.twitter.com/gugM2a2ckT— Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) October 4, 2017
Perrette also hinted at a certain powerful individual’s influence behind her decision as the person was spreading incorrect stories about her. Perrette also alleged multiple physical assaults behind her decision to leave. “I want to thank my studio and network CBS They have always been so good to me and always had my back,” she finally added.
In June 2019, Perrette responded to queries about whether there was a possibility of her returning to the show. However, it was then that the actress explicitly named her co-star Mark Harmon (Leroy Jethro Gibbs) and suggested that he was a major factor behind her decision to leave the series. “NO I AM NOT COMING BACK! EVER! (Please stop asking?) I am terrified of Harmon and him attacking me. I have nightmares about it,” she shared.
NO I AM NOT COMING BACK! EVER! (Please stop asking?) I am terrified of Harmon and him attacking me. I have nightmares about it. I have a new show that is SAFE AND HAPPY! You’ll love it!#HappyPlace Love y’all!
— Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) June 7, 2019
As per reports, Pauley Perrette and Mark Harmon were not on good terms during the last few seasons of Perrette’s time on the show. Apparently, the friction between the two started when Harmon’s dog allegedly bit a crew member in 2016. Multiple sources claimed that Perrette objected to Harmon’s dog being allowed on the set even after the incident.
Even though rumors regarding the rift between Perrette and Harmon have been doing the rounds since 2018, CBS hasn’t directly addressed Perrette’s claims. In August 2019, CBS’ president of entertainment, Kelly Kahl, said, “I can’t speak to to what she’s addressing in her tweets. She came to us with a workplace concern, we immediately investigated it and resolved it to everyone’s satisfaction, and we’re very happy to have her on the air with us this year. I don’t think she’d be back with us if she had huge concerns.”
In April 2020, Perrette herself said that she has moved forward from that incident. “That [the allegations] is a part of my past now, and it’s nothing that I have any need to talk about again, other than one thing: I’m certainly grateful for having the opportunity to play that character and I always will be,” she told USA Today.
Where is Pauley Perrette Now?
After leaving ‘NCIS,’ Pauley Perrette joined CBS’ sitcom ‘Broke’ as part of the main cast. The sitcom aired from April 2020 to June 2020 and was canceled after only one season. On July 7, 2020, Perrette announced her retirement from acting. “I’m HAPPILY RETIRED! Finally! Woot! All I ever wanted!” Perrette shared. “Actually I retired after NCIS but BROKE was important, beautiful. I did my last dance & am proud of it! Everyone that knows me knew I was retiring right after. I’m proud of my work. I love you guys! I AM FREE!!! (To be the tiny little simple human I am!),” she added the same day.
Actually I retired after NCIS but BROKE was important, beautiful.I did my last dance & am proud of it! Everyone that knows me knew I was retiring right after. I’m proud of my work. I love you guys! I AM FREE!!! (To be the tiny little simple human I am!) #Plants #RescuePets #Books
— Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) July 7, 2020
After Perrette’s retirement, she started spending her time advocating various causes in and around her community in Hollywood, Los Angeles. She is a member of Hollywood United Methodist Church and is apparently a regular churchgoer. She is also a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ causes, the COVID-19 vaccine, and animal rescue. Her admirable community services also include involvement in food and vaccination drives. Moreover, she is a collaborator of the LAFD Foundation, a non-profit partner of the Los Angeles Fire Department. She regularly updates her YouTube channel PAULEYGRAM to communicate with her fans.
Please, please… accept my church’s and my care and come get vaccinated. You’ll get your own HUGE ring from our famous Bell Tower! Please get #vaccinated https://t.co/o7cP9UHHzD
— Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) August 26, 2021
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