Happens here on FR and other social media all the time. People jump the gun and pop off with bald assertions about something before all the facts are in. The difference is, since he is a public figure, this guy had no choice but to recant his words. People on social media rarely admit they were wrong, but let the rash speculation just hang in the air like a bad smell poisoning the air.
He’s not a “public figure” any more than I am.
He’s a former minister who probably preached at least once about the evil of bearing false witness against one’s neighbor. He is duty-bound to repent and correct the record, which he finally did.