He didn't ignore it, he apologized to one and then chose to retreat and asked to be cancelled. He didn't go silent to "seek a lawyer", that only came months after and he was convinced by others to do it, it wasn't his immediate choice. If you accuse me, in the middle of the street, of robbing your store and beating up your employee, and, after looking at your bloodied employee, I remorsefully apologize to her and ask to be taken to jail, everyone watching the confrontation on the street will see it as an admission of guilt, even though I never addressed your accusations of robbery.