You can put out the announcement without needing to lower...

You can put out the announcement without needing to lower yourself to childish nonsense like calling him a gossip bloggist (despite how true it might be)

A simple announcement refuting the claims with the example provided would suffice.

Lowering yourself to childish mud-slinging reeks of unprofessional behaviour.

I expect better from a CEO, i expect garbage from 'journalists' like Mr. Aston. Is it fair? No.