I didn’t know that about bronies. Please share your view on why they were especially wholesome. I’m genuinely interested as I met some of them and they seemed friendly and maybe vulnerable as they seemingly had no bad intentions it made me relax, even though they were strangers. Maybe it struck a nerve in me as I was very accustomed to nerds in school, but I really don’t like My Little Pony :)

Organisations are social ecosystems. This happens. Some person I don’t know said online: it’s more important to be likable then to be good at your Job. Be good, kind, helpful to people, treat everyone with true interest for what they do and respect. Have some passion. Gossip will likely stop. They will protect you as a person and not try to find your problems.