Pauley Perrette, who portrayed forensic scientist Abby Sciuto on NCIS for 15 seasons, departed the show in 2018 under contentious circumstances. The catalyst was a 2016 incident where co-star Mark Harmon’s dog bit a crew member, causing serious injury. Despite concerns from the cast and crew, Harmon continued to bring the dog on set, leading to growing tension between him and Perrette. Their relationship deteriorated to the point where they no longer filmed scenes together.

In 2019, Perrette publicly stated she would never return to NCIS, claiming she feared Harmon and referencing multiple incidents that made her feel unsafe. She spoke out about being physically assaulted and expressed frustration over being silenced for trying to protect her colleagues. CBS acknowledged that there had been workplace concerns and said efforts were made to resolve them at the time.

After leaving NCIS, Perrette starred in a short-lived sitcom but eventually chose to retire from acting altogether. She has since turned her attention to producing and personal passions, choosing to live life on her own terms. While fans continue to miss her iconic character, Perrette has made it clear that she is moving forward and has no intention of returning to the spotlight.