Calling Thursday’s “Glee” rumor the product of a Twitter hacking, 20th Century Fox TV denies that star Chris Colfer will be leaving the series.
“We’ve been alerted that Chris Colfer’s twitter account has been hacked,” Tweeted the studio Thursday afternoon. “Rumors of his dismissal from Glee could not be further from the truth. We love Chris and look forward to working with him again this season.”
Members of the “Glee” fanbase–and of the entertainment media–erupted with concern and speculation earlier Tuesday when the comment “Due to personal issues, I have been let go from the cast of Glee. Explanations will come shortly” appeared on his Twitter account.
The promised “explanations” did not come, and the comment was quickly deleted from his personal account.
The Colfer story comes two months after gossip websites produced a story saying Naya Rivera had been fired from “Glee.” While that fabricated rumor was also shot down by official “Glee” sources, it seemed more logical and defensible due to the fact that Rivera, who media outlets claimed had been feuding with star Lea Michele, did not appear in the show’s fifth season finale.
Colfer, however, is the show’s male lead and a central focus of its narrative. News of his departure would naturally incite more scrutiny and suspicion.
“Glee” returns to FOX for its sixth and final season in 2015.