This is not something new. This is nothing but a "mean girl," camouflaged by testicles, trying to pull off a "social assassination" through ostracism.
Anytime you see someone arbitrarily diminishing another's self-defense (i.e. "despite his protestations"), you know you're dealing with a "bitch" sporting a vendetta.
That’s just a great summary if the technique at work here.
Would it sound gay if I said that phrase was "fabulous?"