Earlier this week, rumors surfaced that The Walking Dead star Chandler Riggs may be leaving the series, after the actor revealed on social media that he was accepted to Auburn University. Another social media post by his father revealed that he has completed and fulfilled his seven-year contract, which also included the hashtag #freedom," which many interpreted that the actor is "free" from his obligations to the show and that he would be leaving. Today we have word from Chandler Riggs' mother, who shoots down these rumors that her son is leaving the show.

Last week, Gina-Ann Riggs posted a photo from The Walking Dead set on Instagram, and after the rumors started surfacing about her son leaving the hit zombie series, she was asked by a number of fans if the rumors were true. As it turns out, fans shouldn't "over analyze" her son's social media posts. Here's what she had to say in response to a fan on Instagram.

"Don't over analyze. His seven year contract is up. That's all he was saying, nothing else. Pretty big accomplishment for a child actor (and for the parent who had to quit his job for this child to be able to follow his dream)."

Auburn University is located roughly an hour and a half away from Atlanta, where The Walking Dead is filmed, so it's possible that the actor may be continuing on The Walking Dead and commuting back and forth from the university. AMC has already renewed the hit series for Season 8, and the show is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. Some fans didn't believe the rumors that Chandler Riggs may be leaving the show, especially since that would be a huge deviation from the comics.

AMC hasn't confirmed whether or not Chandler Riggs' Carl will be killed off on the series or not, but he is still alive in the comic books, created by Robert Kirkman. There have been a number of major changes from the comics to the TV show, such as Andrea (Laurie Holden), who is still alive in the comics but was killed in the Season 3 finale of the TV series. Chandler Riggs' Carl is in the midst of a major arc from the comics, which will likely become fully realized on the series. Chandler Riggs is one of just four actors on The Walking Dead who have been with the show since Season 1, alongside Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes), Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon) and Melissa McBride (Carol Peltier).