It certainly seems like a reach to just assume bad behavior on both ends.
Which actually, is one of the more insidious outcomes of making absurd claims against someone, even if they're completely false. People naturally respond "well, no one would be crazy enough to make something like that up, so there must be some truth to it."
Which actually, is one of the more insidious outcomes of making absurd claims against someone, even if they're completely false. People naturally respond "well, no one would be crazy enough to make something like that up, so there must be some truth to it."