He is stupid but it is impossible to believe a plea of ignorance. I think he's a spineless pussy sellout who says whatever he thinks he has to say to get a very particular type of person to like him. That's the path of least resistance in his world, and what he does to eke the tiniest sliver of advantage for himself. I wouldn't let him off the hook so as to say "forgive him for he knows not what he's done".