Until very recently, Pauley Perrette played Abby Sciuto, one of the most popular characters on one of CBS’ most popular programs: NCIS. Then, shocking her fans, Perrette announced she would no longer be on the show. She was quitting… and fans would not like the reason.
In a series of tweets announcing her departure from the program, Perrette said “multiple physical assaults” played a role in her decision to leave. The actress also complained about “tabloid articles out there that are telling total lies about me,” but it was clear she was very unhappy about things that happened on the set of NCIS.
The tweets were like an exploding bomb for fans and for the network. After all, “Abby” was a mainstay on a show that has been running for 15 successful seasons. Fans expressed shock and dismay, and rumors started flying. The drama grew so thick, CBS had little choice but to respond. CBS Television Studios released a statement which read, in part:
“Pauley Perrette had a terrific run on NCIS and we are all going to miss her… Over a year ago, Pauley came to us with a workplace concern… We took the matter seriously and worked with her to find a resolution. We are committed to a safe work environment on all our shows.”
As you might imagine, that kind of vague statement only stoked the flames of curiosity from fans. They wanted to know what happened, who was involved, and to what extent those events were involved in “Abby’s” departure from the show.
Perrette was not forthcoming, declining to identify who “assaulted” her, and declining to explain the nature of the alleged incident. “I refuse to go low, that’s why I’ve never told publicly what happened… But there are tabloid articles out there telling total lies about me… If you believe them, please leave me alone… You don’t know me.”
After a pause, Perrette continued her explanation on Twitter: “I’m just trying to do the right thing… Maybe silence isn’t the right thing… Stay safe. Nothing is worth your safety… Tell someone.”
The cryptic explanations only served to pique fans’ curiosity even more. Most expressed understanding as to why Perrette would have remained silent for a time, and they offered support for the actress, but they still wanted to know more. Since neither the actress nor the network are assuaging that curiosity, the rumors may end up taking on a life of their own. This could mean difficult questions for the rest of the cast of the hit show.
About Ronn Torossian
Ronn Torossian is the Founder and CEO of 5W Public Relations. He is an experienced leader in the public relations industry with over 20 years of experience. Ronn Torossian has been named as Public Relations executive of the year by the American Business Awards, and has run countless award-winning Public Relations programs.