Merge replication SQL 2016 publisher & distributor SQL 2008 R2 subscriber

Hi,

I am looking to upgrade my merge replication topology servers and am a little confused by the document https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sql_server_team/upgrading-a-replication-topology-to-sql-server-2016/

It states that:

A Subscriber to a merge publication can be any version less than or equal to the Publisher version.

But further down in the merge replication matrix, it shows that 2016 publisher will support only 2016, 2014 & 2012 subscriber.

Can anyone confirm if a 2016 publisher/distributor <->2008 R2 subscriber is supported?

thanks,

Lesley