He swatted her. There was no time to "grab" anything. In context with what everyone else was doing he clearly thought he was being funny. Again she could have PRIVATELY found him and demand he apologize or else. But she throws him right to the wolves and doesn't even give him a chance to respond or apologize before he's torn apart.
That's how it works. John Wayne comes in with the flying knee. No need to apologize, he's unconscious. Any reasonable man would do the same. Now, the 'twitter mob' engages. Just as you would do to defend your wife.