Story and story-telling are one of the exciting things that make life less boring and more interesting.
You love stories, especially gossip, don’t you? Hearing and retelling them give you a temporary escape from the struggles of life. It is sweet when it’s about others but very bitter when you are the subject.
What is the best way to handle it when you are at the center of a bad gossip? The first step is- DON’T IGNORE IT! Then, use every channel available to you, to tell your own side of the story.
It is very dangerous to ignore a gossip that paints you in bad light. Your reputation could be severely damaged. And if you should allow this to happen, it could weaken your goodwill to get considerations for job offers and business referrals.
So face it and deal with it.