IMHO the problem is perception. It is difficult to divert & reverse, quickly, deep seated perception with facts: it takes a concerted campaign of
PR and insistent factual presentation to overturn a strong perception. This difficulty can be enforced if the person involved cries wolf too often and is perceived, or worse, to be economic with the truth on a regular basis. When they are telling the truth no-one believes them and it is an uphill struggle of their own making to get the message across.
What goes around..............