Rodent or rat?

Somebody made an entirely unprovoked and inappropriate joke about someone else's hair-loss as a result of illness. Shame on him!
Another person took offence and has been globally lambasted. That person has apologised for their reaction.
So far the protagonist still pretends to be the victim. Shame on him!
Some of the fall-out has been misinterpreted as masculine defending feminine.
Bollocks!
It's healthy defending unwell, and the protagonist is just sick.
There's a difference.