I have also seen first-hand what happens when someone makes false allegations, and in this story so far we don't know what may or may not be false. I can see why the media would share this story, because it gets readers' attention and has all that sensational gossip-friendly content. At least they remark on having tried to reach the defendants for comment, though that could mean anything.

The problem is that false allegations can be extraordinarily damaging in the short-term, though hopefully the injury evaporates in the long-term as truth takes over.