My point was that we don't have to "imagine," since not only was RR accused of rape, but the book in which this accusation was made even hit #1 on the NYT bestseller list. For some reason, the accuser only did one interview, and then the public forgot all about it.
Now, as I've already noted, there are many possible reasons why the media chose to downplay this story.
It may be for a dramatic conflict of this nature to draw ratings, you need a vindictive and vigorous victim to play the role of accuser, not an elderly woman who has long since forgiven her rapist and even voted for him! That would explain a lot, actually.