‘I Love My Job’: The Surprising Reason Pauley Perrette Faced Backlash From Ziva David Fans After Cote de Pablo’s Sudden NCIS Exit

Behind the scenes of NCIS, an unexpected exit and a social media clash created tension among the cast and fans.

Cote de Pablo, who played fan-favorite Ziva David, shocked viewers and colleagues in 2013 when she abruptly announced her departure from the show. Her sudden exit sparked widespread speculation and concern among fans.

The situation grew more intense when Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto) posted a photo of herself wearing a 2007 shirt that said, “I love my job.” Although harmless on the surface, many fans saw it as a dig at de Pablo for leaving. The tweet triggered a backlash, and the online conflict quickly escalated. According to reports, de Pablo contacted Perrette and asked her to stop posting about the situation. Perrette soon deleted the tweet and briefly shut down her Twitter account, but the drama had already stirred strong reactions from fans.

How Tony & Ziva’s Relationship Will Evolve in NCIS: Tony & Ziva

Fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming NCIS: Tony & Ziva series, which follows Tony, Ziva, and their daughter Tali as they live in Paris. When Tony’s security company is att4cked, the family is forced to flee across Europe, pushing Tony and Ziva to confront their past and rebuild trust.

At the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo explained that the core theme of the series is trust. De Pablo said the show explores “how this relationship moves forward,” especially as the couple raises Tali. Weatherly added that Tali will struggle emotionally, particularly because she spent years believing her mother was dead.

The new series also expands the story beyond the U.S., with European settings and a fresh creative approach from showrunner John McNamara.

With action, family drama, and emotional conflict, NCIS: Tony & Ziva will dive into how Tony and Ziva restore their relationship while protecting their daughter and facing new threats.