Pauley Perrette’s shocking departure from NCIS stunned fans, but behind the scenes, tensions had reportedly been building for years. According to sources close to the production, her permanent removal wasn’t just a sudden decision — it stemmed from serious personal and professional conflicts. Many fans remember her beloved character Abby Sciuto, the quirky forensic scientist, but few know that her working relationship with co-star Mark Harmon became strained after an incident involving Harmon’s dog allegedly biting a crew member.

Perrette reportedly felt unsafe and voiced her concerns, but tensions only escalated. The atmosphere on set grew uncomfortable, and producers were forced to make a tough call. Despite her long-standing contribution to the show, it was ultimately decided that it was best for Perrette to leave permanently to preserve harmony on set.

Though Pauley has since spoken out on social media about feeling bullied and unsafe, CBS has maintained that her exit was mutual and that they support her. Fans continue to debate what really happened, but one thing’s for sure: NCIS was never quite the same without Abby’s infectious energy and iconic style.