I’m so sorry to hear about your friend and what she has been through. It is the ugly truth that people love to gossip, spread rumors and make a mountain out of mole hill!! Two people start talking and the world assumes something fishy ‘MUST’ be going on.
I’m sorry i don’t understand, why was he fired? You say the firm had an informal environment itself but then this rumor got on so big that he was fired? :S