Jennifer Aniston's Dad Was Not Blindsided by Her Engagement to Justin Theroux

Despite rumors claiming her actor father John Aniston found out the happy news online, rep clarifies that father-in-law-to-be was more than aware of his daughter's betrothal

Father may know best. But that doesn't mean he always knows first.

That's the claim that swept the Internet in the hours after Jennifer Aniston confirmed her engagement to boyfriend Justin Theroux, after a website contacted father of the bride-to-be John Aniston Sunday night for a response to the happy news, only to be met with confusion from the actor and a statement claiming that was the first he'd heard of the betrothal news.

Well, the Department of Don't Believe Everything You Read has a new branch: Turns out, you shouldn't believe everything you hear, either.

Jennifer's rep confirms to E! News that despite his misleading statement to Celebuzz yesterday, in which he said, "It's the first I've heard about it," the soap star did indeed know of the engagement.

"John Aniston knew but was not aware when we would go public so he didn't want to be tricked by someone on the phone and pretended not to know. He was caught off guard by someone calling him directly."

Well, that the story got so much traction is almost flattering: If nothing else, it's a credit to his acting chops!