Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

Pauley Perrette, who left "NCIS" last week without specifying why, is now hinting the reasons are far darker than she had been willing to disclose.

What compelled her to respond? Rumors recently emanated from RadarOnline that she had some feud with star Mark Harmon over a dog that had bitten a crew member. This led her to post a few Tweets .

"There is a 'machine' keeping me silent, and feeding FALSE stories about me," she wrote. "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."

What did "he" do?

Then Perrette, who grew up in Roswell, implied she had been assaulted.

I've been supporting ant-bullying 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.

"NCIS" has not responded to these accusations.

She left the show after 15 seasons.