We have good news for “Nian” shippers. Rumors began circulating that “Vampire Diaries” star Ian Somerhalder has a lady in his life who is NOT his co-star and ex Nina Dobrev. But the reports appear to be false.

E! News reported that the 35-year-old actor may be dating Molly Swenson, a former “American Idol” contestant. According to the site, the pair was photographed party-hopping this week, first attending the Details magazine party before hitting up the Treats! magazine cocktail party. Sources at the parties claimed that the duo weren’t “overly affectionate,” but remained close to each other and casually held hands.

“They seemed happy, casual and enjoying the evening,” one "insider" said.

But their “romance” is definitely not what it seems. Swenson took to Twitter to reveal that she has actually been “off the market” for two years.

But, who is Molly Swenson? And why the Ian Somerhalder dating rumors?

The “hand-holding” report does make a relationship seem possible – plus Swenson and Somerhalder have been photographed together in past! But the truth is that the two actually work together. Swenson is the chief operating officer at RYOT News, an organization where Somerhalder is on the advisory board.

For those unfamiliar with RYOT.org, it's a news site dedicated to giving their readers “a way to not feel helpless, to take action and have an impact on what they read in the news.” The stories posted on RYOT include an action box for readers to get involved, and the website donates a percentage of advertising revenue to numerous nonprofits.

According to the RYOT site, Swenson is a Seattle native who has lived all over the world before setting down in Los Angeles. A Harvard University graduate, she has dabbled in a few different fields – interning at the White House and working in the fashion industry – before settling down to do philanthropic work.

On March 9 the 25-year-old posted a photo with her rumored beau and “The Following” star Kevin Bacon.

This isn’t Swenson’s first brush with fame. The blonde auditioned for “American Idol” judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson during Season 10 in 2011. The judges all pushed her through to Hollywood after hearing her beautiful rendition of Otis Redding’s “Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay.”

Check out photos of Ian Somerhalder and Molly Swenson below. Do you think they are dating? Let us know in the comments section.

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