Avril Lavigne has spoken out about the seemingly enduring rumor that she died in 2003 and was replaced by a body double named Melissa.
The conspiracy theory has circulated for almost two decades, believed to have first emerged on a Brazilian fan site in 2011.
The rumor is that the real Avril died in 2003, shortly after the release of her debut album, Let Go, and was replaced by a doppelganger called Melissa Vandella.
Evidence used to support the theory was supposed changes to Avril's appearance between 2003 and now, as well as what fans believed was subliminal messaging in her follow-up album, Under My Skin, released in 2004, as well as a photoshoot in which she had the name "Melissa" written on her hand.
However, despite how deep fans want to dig to prove the real Avril was replaced, the singer herself has denied the conspiracy theory on many occasions.
She addressed the claims during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast last year, admitting that the rumors don't particularly bother her.
Avril told host Alex Cooper: "Honestly, it's not that bad. It could be worse, right? Like, I feel like I got a good one! I don't think it's like negative or anything creepy."
She then burst out laughing as she confirmed: "Obviously, I am me - it's so dumb!"
As far as unfounded rumors go, that probably isn't as bad as what some others have faced, so we'll give her that.
Avril had previously told EW: "It’s just a dumb internet rumor and [I’m] flabbergasted that people bought into it. Isn’t that so weird?
"It’s so dumb. And I look the exact same. On one hand, everyone is like, 'Oh my god, you look the same,' and on the other hand people are like 'Oh my god, she died'."
Avril also previously theorized why that particular rumor ran so rampant, believing it is because "people are just bored and need something to talk about".
Fans have often pinpointed miniscule alleged differences between how Avril looks now compared to 20 years ago as being proof that she has been replaced by another woman.
While it's totally normal and expected that any human being won't look identical in photos two decades apart, we're going to take Avril's word that she is the real Avril Lavigne.