The fact that you would debate if someone is more outraged about rape jokes than dragging someone's name through the mud, speaks volumes about your beliefs...
I think it speaks to your world viewpoint that a joke is considered way worse than harm to an actual person's reputation for something they have allegedly done with no evidence offered about it.
That is 1000 times worse than a joke because it involves an actual harm against an actual person.
A joke is a joke and will be considered funny or unfunny on its merits.
I actually think it speaks to a societal point of view that men are disposable. If a woman does something wrong and you look for an excuse that explains the wrongdoing. A man does something wrong and you don't ask questions but just search for the nearest tree to hang him by his neck. In some cases a man (or group as in University of Virginia) does nothing wrong but are just accused of doing something wrong and people try to burn them down and throw rocks at them.
A joke is worse than a harm against a man - what's this world come to.