“Come on, we’re losing her!” Time


Pauley Perrette is saying she's been kept "silent" about the reason for her departure from NCIS after 15 seasons.

In a series of tweets, she also made vague references to "crime" and "multiple physical assaults," but there was no specific connection made to the long-running CBS hit.

Perrette, who has played beloved forensic specialist Abby Sciuto since the crime procedural was spun off from JAG, finished her run with last week's episode, which featured Abby leaving NCIS after the death of a colleague. 

In four tweets over the weekend, Perrette talked about why she hasn't discussed her reason for leaving. She said she was trying to protect the show's crew and their jobs, referred to false stories being spread about her and blamed a "very powerful publicity 'machine' " for keeping her silent.

More: Pauley Perrette says fans will need 'boxes of tissues' for Abby's 'NCIS' exit

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Her publicist, Steve Jaffe, confirmed the tweets were Perrette's, but said she would have no additional comment. "She said, 'I have no comment other than my tweets.' "

USA TODAY contacted CBS for comment but has not received a response.

The first tweet explained why Perrette hadn't revealed the specific reason for her departure.


In an interview two weeks ago with USA TODAY, Perrette, 49, declined to address why she was leaving. "That's for me to know," she said.

In the second tweet, posted early Sunday, Perrette talked about keeping quiet to protect others' jobs, but suggested that "silence isn't the right thing about crime," without adding any detail.


The third tweet refers to "a rich, very powerful publicity 'machine' " keeping her silent and putting out false stories about her. At the end, it says, "He did it," with no explanation. 

The tweet reads: "There is a "machine' keeping me silent, and feeding FALSE stories about me. A very rich, very powerful publicity "machine". No morals, no obligation to truth, and I'm just left here, reading the lies, trying to protect my crew. Trying to remain calm. He did it."

In the final tweet, Perrette talks about not being required to go to school or work if one is bullied and "multiple physical assaults," although she doesn't specifically reference NCIS.

She tweeted: "I've been supporting ant-bullying (sic) programs forever. But now I KNOW because it was ME! If it's school or work, that you're required to go to? It's horrifying. I left. Multiple Physical Assaults. I REALLY get it now. Stay safe. Nothing is worth your safety. Tell someone."

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