It takes a substantial amount of intelligence and logic to admit one is wrong. Rationalization is always very simple. As a recovering alcoholic, I spent decades rationalizing my drinking. It took everything in me to admit I had a problem.
When you do something that you’ve rationalized for years and are confronted with a stark reality, the first instinct is to deny. Let them continue to deny. As truth starts to bubble up, they’ll be forced to confront reality the same way an addict has to confront their own denial.
Mmm . . yeah. What a difficult issue to resolve for all involved, eh?