After an impressive 13 seasons on the popular television show NCIS, fans were left wondering why beloved actor Michael Weatherly decided to depart from the series. Speculation and rumors were rampant about the real reason behind his departure, but now the truth has been revealed.

According to reports, the main factor that led to Weatherly's exit was the alleged mistreatment of co-star, Eliza Dushku.

Weatherly was accused of making inappropriate comments towards Dushku on set, which eventually led to her filing a complaint against him. The situation escalated when it was revealed that Weatherly made a sizable donation to CBS in order to avoid any further investigation into the matter.

Weatherly's departure from NCIS came shortly after these allegations were brought to light. It is believed that the controversy surrounding his behavior and the subsequent settlement with Dushku played a significant role in his decision to leave the show.

The mistreatment allegations and Weatherly's reaction to them caused a major rift within the NCIS cast and crew. It was reported that some of his co-stars were deeply disturbed by the situation and felt strongly about supporting Dushku. This created a tense and uncomfortable work environment, ultimately leading to Weatherly's departure.

Furthermore, Weatherly's departure from NCIS was not without controversy.

It was revealed that CBS attempted to cover up the allegations by quietly settling with Dushku, instead of conducting a thorough investigation into the matter. This decision raised concerns about the network's treatment of such serious issues and sparked a wider conversation about workplace harassment in the entertainment industry.

In the wake of these events, Weatherly moved on to star in his own series, Bull, which premiered shortly after his departure from NCIS.

While some fans were excited to see him in a new role, others were disappointed and upset by the circumstances surrounding his exit from the long-running show.

Overall, it appears that the mistreatment allegations and Weatherly's subsequent settlement played a crucial role in his decision to leave NCIS. The controversy surrounding the incident not only affected the cast and crew of the show, but it also raised important questions about the way workplace harassment is handled in the entertainment industry. For Weatherly, the situation marked an end to his remarkable run on NCIS, leaving fans to wonder what lies ahead for their beloved actor.