Grey's Anatomy Creator Denies Unhappy Stars Leaving

Shonda Rhimes, Grey's Anatomy's creator and executive producer, wants to set the record straight: T.R. Knight and Katherine Heigl are not leaving the show.

"That was a very interesting rumor," Rhimes said. "And it's not true."

Speaking at the 40th NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles, Rhimes was referring to the recent comments by Grey's Anatomy cast member James Pickens Jr., in which the actor seemed to confirm their impending departure.

Are best friends T.R. Knight and Katherine Heigl leaving Grey's Anatomy this season or not? This question has persisted for months - and the answer is still unclear.

"That was absolutely taken out of context," said Rhimes. "Things happen, and ... I think rumors become fact very easily. And you know I don't like to tell you what's going to happen on the show – but that is a rumor."

Not sure how "Yes, she is" and "He's going too" could be taken out of context exactly, but James Pickens, Jr., is now spouting the company line as well.

"We've been living with these rumors for a long time," he said. "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."

Mmm hmm. It's hard to know what to even think anymore. But we can tell you this fact with absolute certainty: Katherine Heigl pictures are hot!