Back in 2009, the National Enquirer published a story saying that actor Morgan Freeman and his then 27-year-old step-granddaughter, E’Dena Hines, had been having an affair for upwards of a decade.

Now the actor and Hines are both speaking out with an unequivocal denial about reports they’re going to tie the knot.

Freeman’s rep said that after years of staying silent so as not to “dignify these stories by commenting,” the fact that some media sources are now reporting the pair plans to marry have made the actor feel the time has come to set the record straight.

In a statement, Freeman said:

The recent reports of any pending marriage or romantic relationship of me to anyone are defamatory fabrications from the tabloid media designed to sell papers. What is even more alarming is that these fabrications are now being picked up by the legitimate press as well.

E’Dena issued a statement of her own that read, “These stories about me and my grandfather are not only untrue, they are also hurtful to me and my family.”

The family tree is a bit complicated, but here’s how it breaks down:

From 1967 until 1979, Freeman was married to his first wife, Jeanette. During that time he adopted Jeanette’s daughter, who later gave birth to E’Dena, thus making the girl Freeman’s legal granddaughter, although they aren’t related by blood.

Over the years, Hines and Freeman, 79, grew close — he’s often taken her to premieres and awards events, which could be how all the nasty rumors started to take shape.

Watch a story about the icky mess below.

[TMZ]

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