I think it's absurd to believe the WHCD incident was staged.
But I think it's completely natural that normal adults challenge every sentence said by an administration composed almost exclusively of pathological liars.
They lie every single day.
Demonstrable lies.
Massive lies.
Profitable lies.
Purposeless lies.
Cruel lies.
It's hardly surprising that people doubt every single word that comes out of their mouths, or accept alternative tellings, however absurd.