Can I be punished for something I don’t believe I said, at an out of work social event?
I am friends with Sarah at work.
Sarah went on a couple of dates with Jim, also from work.
She told me she was looking for a relationship and help off sleeping with him.
After they slept together he told her he was not interested in a relationship.
She was upset.
A couple of weeks ago at an out of work social event I was asked about Sarah and Jim,
I did not know it was not common knowledge,
I said something along the lines of “he told advantage of her” when pressed by another colleague (and after a glass of wine) I said that she only slept with him because he took advantage.
It turned out one of the people there is a friend of his, went to him and told he I said that he took advantage of her when she was too drunk to say no.
Another person there agrees that’s what I said, but I’m sure I didn’t.
I did say some other not very nice things.
Another person who was there said they can’t remember what I said but they think it was something like he took advantage of her when she didn’t want to.
My assumption is a mix of people interpreting what I said and misremembering.
Jim said he is going to HR, he has two people, possibly 3 willing to be witnesses to me lying about him.
Realistically what will will happen,
I’m scared no one will believe me.