Friends fans were startled earlier this summer when reports began to circulate that Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer were dating three months after the reunion special aired on HBO Max. “After the reunion, it became clear that reminiscing over the past had stirred up feelings for both of them and that chemistry they’d always had to bury was still there,” a source told Closer Weekly at the time. But today, the Morning Show actor is finally setting the record straight.

The Morning Show host spoke to Entertainment Tonight about her reaction to allegations that she and her former Friends costar were dating, a rumor that went viral last month but was later discredited.

“That was bizarre. I could not believe that, actually. Like, really? That’s my brother,” Aniston said during a joint interview with her “Morning Show” co-star Reese Witherspoon.

“But I understand it, though,” Aniston concluded. “It just shows you how hopeful people are for fantasies, for dreams to come true.”

Aniston and Schwimmer’s representatives have previously refuted the relationship allegations, which arose when the co-stars admitted to having feelings on each other while playing Rachel Green and Ross Gellar on Friends.

During the HBO Max reunion, Schwimmer revealed, “The first season, we– I had a major crush on Jen.”

“It was reciprocated,” Aniston replied.

FRIENDS — “The One Where Ross and Rachel…You Know” Episode 15 — Pictured: (l-r) Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

Schwimmer remarked, “At some point, we were both crushing hard on each other. But it was like two ships passing, because one of us was always in a relationship. And we never crossed that boundary. We respected that.”

Aniston said, “Honestly, I remember saying one time to David, ‘It’s going to be such a bummer if the first time you and I actually kiss is going to be on national television.’ Sure enough, first time we kissed was in that coffee shop.”

“We channeled all of our adoration and love for each other into Ross and Rachel,” she continued.

According to a story from Closer magazine in August, Schwimmer and Aniston “began texting immediately after filming” the program. According to the insider, David travelled from New York to Los Angeles in July to meet Jen, and the two had been “spending time at Jen’s home,” where they “enjoyed quality time together, chatting and laughing.” The two were “spotted drinking wine, deep in conversation, as they walked around one of Jen’s favorite vineyards in Santa Barbara,” according to the insider.

And, of course, the show’s fans were giddy with anticipation at hearing the news.

From 2010 to 2017, Schwimmer was married to Zoe Buckman, with whom he had a 10-year-old daughter named Cleo. Aniston was married to Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005, and then to Justin Theroux, with whom she parted in 2018 after over seven years together and more than two years of marriage.