The article doesn't mention it was off the record, and I wasn't there, so how would I know it's off the record? But it seems likely that this isn't just exagge

The article doesn't mention it was off the record, and I wasn't there, so how would I know it's off the record? But it seems likely that this isn't just exaggerated or hyperbolic, but just not close to accurate, in which case even if it's off the record it's silly.