I can only imagine the true facts here.
It strikes me that if there is a fire in the cockpit that there would be little women & children and passengers first BS beside the crew exiting the perceived and severe threat ASAP at the very front.
Orderly evacuation in that case would be expected only at the mid and aft doors.
I'm happy to be corrected if a published SOP was violated or that passengers were beaten back by the crew with batons