I assume it is intentional that this article is devoid of any actual quote of what is purported to have been said, and instead consists purely of multiple, most

I assume it is intentional that this article is devoid of any actual quote of what is purported to have been said, and instead consists purely of multiple, mostly redundant statements of how the teenagers reacted to what is insinuated to have been said? The levels of indirection here don't leave a great impression.