Grey's Boss Says "Very Interesting" Exit Talk Is "Not True"

Are they or aren't they?

Is she, but perhaps isn't he?

Recently resurrected buzz that both Katherine Heigl and T.R Knight will be checking out of Grey's Anatomy at the end of this season has had new aspersion cast on it by series creator Shonda Rhimes.

James Pickens Jr. (aka the Chief) told reporters earlier this week, "Yes, [Heigl] is" leaving, adding, "I wish her nothing but the best." He also said Knight is "going, too ... to pursue other career paths."

But when Rhimes was asked to discuss the double departure, she told the press at Thursday's NAACP Image Awards, "That was a very interesting rumor. And it's not true."

Rhimes went on to say that Pickens' well-wishes to his colleagues were "taken out of context." She added, "You know I don't like to tell you what's going to happen on the show, but that is a rumor."

Of course, if Rhimes is bundling the exit of Heigl and Knight as one rumor, it could be that just one of the actors (likely Heigl, whose film career is bustling) is actually booked for a goodbye, thus making it "not true." Sources have told TVGuide.com that Knight's dissatisfaction with storylines (and lack thereof) might possibly be reversing itself, as George's end-of-season arc is beefed up.

Pickens himself, People reports, has backtracked on his earlier "confirmation," saying at the Image Awards, "We've been living with these rumors for a long time. When the question was posed to me, I was more trying to congratulate Katie and T.R. on whatever they were going to do. But yeah, I don't have any special info about it either way."