Who's the trustworthy person who claims that Ford requested this? Such claims make the story sound more "attractive".
The tape is in Ford's words. The sentiments expressed are new to us, ie, he had not professed them following the interview. So a request for posthumous release fits the scenario.
This shooting the messenger is approaching hysterical denial.
What Ford had to say about anything should be irrelevant, but apparently a mountain of molehills is in the making.