Why do people still believe 60 yr old rumors?

I think probably every human being has said something racist in their lifetime, but they may not consider themselves racist. People say stupid things when they are angry or pissed off at someone and generalise. It's like that in any argument like someone breaks something of yours "YOUR ALWAYS RUINING MY THINGS" actually no it was juts once or twice lol you know? Just that when someone is famous and spotted saying something like that they blow it into a giant spectacle. Maybe he was racist, maybe he wasn't. But it's kind of like this lad over here, it will be 60 years and still there will be people who believe silly things, but ultimately what does it do? Nothing they are dead. Simple. Like what you like about them, there's no point in worrying about the negatives, its not going to help anyone or change anything.