If I see 3 people doing the same wrong thing, They are all telling Lashon Harah.
A Secular Jew, A MO jew and a Charedi Jew . I dont consider the sin the same. Call me a hippocrite or not, but the person who claims to be a “True Torah Jew” I expect more from them , than someone whose doesnt say that. When you put yourself on a Higher madrega I do expect more from you. Just like I expect more from the President than an average citizen.
As far as the incident with Hatikva, I dont know anything about that. I have not heard of it. I will say this the rav should have known his congregation and understood how they felt. If he felt he could not abide by that he should not have taken the position