"where there is a tale bearer, there is strife", and often heartache.
James 3:16: For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
The Bible also tells us, 1John 4:1: Beloved, believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God.  There is always room for error when a story is told, more often than not, it is the silent one that is being persecuted, and the talebearer who is trying to control and manipulate a situation or someone.
I happened to be associated with a couple once many, many years ago who would fit this description.  Though she had problems with anger, selfishness and violence, she often misled others by her "front".  She always showed herself in public as very sweet and shy.  However in small groups and at home she was mentally abusive and violent toward her husband and family.  At church she spread stories of how mistreated she was.  Her husband was ostracized because of her stories as she tried to control the relationship with her ungodly innuendos.
For those who often repeat a matter, we might find that the negativism is a way of life and that this incident, of verbal abasement of others is only one of many.  In other words, this isn't the only time that they have been guilty of faultfinding, being judgmental and tale bearing, often without the full facts.  One should watch out for those "talkers" that have to make their stories good and interesting.  Remember there are two sides to any story.   One could stop a gossip by simply offering to get the other side story.
Remember, we must do this for there is a record being made in heaven and we will be judged by every idle word.  Do we ever stop to consider that the conclusion that we jump to is defaming to someone else's character?  Have we considered the Golden Rule?  How would we want our reputation and our feelings to be handled by someone else?
How can we measure up to God's great men and women who have gone before, if there is not love and compassion for others in our hearts?  How dwelleth the love of God in us when we feel it is our place to destroy another's character by gossip instead of praying for that individual?  We must develop the compassion that Jesus demonstrated for the woman found in the act of adultery, or the thief on the cross.

    man pushed his grocery cart up to the checkout counter.  Just in front of him in line was another customer who was holding her groceries in her arms.  The lady quickly asked if she could place a bit of her groceries in he gentlemen's half full basket.  He consented.  The woman elected to put her six-pack of beer in the basket.  No wanting to seem unkind, he gentleman said nothing, though he was a Christian. As they waited for their turn, the slightly embarrassed Christian saw a fellow church member come into the store.   Recognizing him and what was in his basket.  The other member quickly avoided him and went another way into the shopping area.
Later at church the gentleman noticed how some people avoided him, stared and whispered.  Upon seeing a friend looking at him a little strange, he confronted him about the strange actions of the other members of the church.  He was told that he was seen with several six packs of beer in his grocery basket along with cigarettes and other beverages that Christians should not partake of.  The man quickly explained that there was only one pack of beer and that belonged to the tired customer in front of him who asked to put some items in his basket.
Though his friend tried to help him clear up the mistake, the gossip continued and he was ostracized by many who liked a good story.
Often we see things that are not what they seem, and if we don't watch out, we have passed on false information about a fellow member of God's family.  We noticed that as the story was told, the man was said to have had more in his basket than he actually did, and of course, none of it was his.  He suffered for poor judgment.
Often we forget what the Bible says we should do for those taken over in a fault.  The Lord will not mind if we are praying for something that we thought we saw rather than passing it on behind another's back.
Galatians 6:1: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, less thou also be tempted.

The art of gossip has broken many an innocent heart, and some hearts that could have been restored.  The true foundation of the church of the living God is to love the LORD and one another.  If we practice this, there will be far less "stories" floating around that ostracize our brother, whether guilty or not. Sometimes we find more gossip, backbiting and disloyalty among those who are supposed to be full of the opposite.  Jesus said his church would be known by their love one to another, and yet often the very place that should be full of love is tainted by those who display a great lack of it.
Often jumping to conclusions are those who are the talebearers in a church.  The Bible says,