After Grey's Anatomy's James Pickens Jr. told reporters this week that the show's writers were planning for the departures of both Dr. O'Malley (T.R. Knight) and the brain-tumored Dr. Izzie (Katherine Heigl), creator and showrunner Shonda Rhimes claims they may pull through yet: "That was a very interesting rumor" she told People at the NAACP Image Awards last night. "And it's not true."

For his part, a probably chastised Pickens says his quote was taken out of context: "When the question was posed to me, I was more trying to congratulate Katie and T.R. on whatever they were going to do," he told People. "But yeah, I don’t have any special info about it either way."

So, for the time being, Heigl and Knight will continue to appear on the show, despite not wanting to, and submit themselves to the hilarious whims of the Grey's writers, who are no doubt working overtime trying to come up with a story line even more embarrassing than this one.

T.R. Knight, Katherine Heigl Not Leaving Grey’s Anatomy [TV Watch/People via Defamer]

Earlier: Katherine Heigl’s Brain Tumor Likely Terminal, Claims Costar