Perception is everything. Doesn't really matter if you said or did a particular thing - if people think you did then no amount of explanation will fix that. He

Perception is everything. Doesn't really matter if you said or did a particular thing - if people think you did then no amount of explanation will fix that. He can say that he was just mentioning it as an aside of the story, but that's not how it was perceived. He should have dropped it after the guy apologies and deleted them, and I could believe his hands were tied and it was an editorial decision to include it, but having your own credibility in order, no matter how insignificant you may think you are is imperative before you put your name to something that you're hoping blows up. "Falsehood flies, and the Truth comes limping after it; so that when Men come to be undeceiv’d, it is too late; the Jest is over, and the Tale has had its Effect…"