People are more concerned about themselves than you, I promise.

mrsconn23

Dear Prudence,

My first wife and I divorced three years ago after arguing about everything. I was hoping for an amicable divorce, but I heard she has been spreading bad rumors about me, including saying that I, “tried to sabotage her contraceptives.” We come from a small city where everyone knows each other, so I think everyone is talking about me. Now that we are both remarried, I don’t understand why she can’t move on with her life. There is no way I would confront my ex, but I’m concerned about what people will think of me if I don’t say something. I hate that I don’t even know who she told this to. How can I tell my side of the story if nobody even asks?

—Guilty Until Proven Innocent

banana468

IMO unless there's a behavior that you exhibit eventually people will tilt their heads and wonder why there's always disparaging comments. 

short+sassy

No one has asked and the LW also doesn't mention that people have been weird around him.

He should try not to worry about it.  The people who matter the most, like family and friends, know the truth.

MyNameIsNot

You're hearing she's been saying this from someone, right? So that's where you respond, in the moment. "Wow, I can't imagine why she'd say something like that! We had our disagreements, but we split amicably." 

Unless there's a kid you haven't mentioned, I don't think many people will believe you messed with her pills, especially if her other rumors are equally extreme.