“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28).
This is exactly why gossip is bad. The gossips don't know what they are talking about, are making things up, and intentionally stirring up trouble based on their own assumptions about what is going on (if anything at all). And they are making this place pretty toxic as a result.
The gossips need to stop. Hold your criticism and finger wagging until you have some facts.