Cote de Pablo has finally opened up about the real reason she left NCIS, giving fans long-awaited clarity on her shocking exit. The actress, who played the beloved Ziva David, left the series in 2013, sparking years of speculation about what really happened behind the scenes.

In a recent interview, de Pablo revealed that her decision was based on concerns over Ziva’s storyline. She explained that she wasn’t satisfied with the direction her character was taking and felt it wasn’t respectful to Ziva’s legacy. Wanting to protect the character she had built, she made the difficult choice to walk away.

Though she returned briefly in later seasons to give Ziva a proper send-off, de Pablo made it clear that her original exit was about creative integrity. While fans still miss her on NCIS, they now have a deeper understanding of why she left and how much she cared about Ziva’s story.