Boy do they ever have it down pat. My XAH rang my mum, friends, my parish priest, my doctor and the Police Inspector and went on about me being kicked out by him, because I was "having it off with some dero's and needed to be set straight".
As he was in his usual slurry, agro and foul mouthed state after 4 litres or so of wine, his remarks were taken for what they were, the spewing of an angry, scared and brain fried man. It only happened that one week, but upset me no end, and totally blew his carefully hidden alcohol problem and good reputation, out of the water.
There is nothing you can do, but shrug your shoulders, feel pity for them and leave it be.
God bless