Who is the better friend - One who thinks badly of you for something but confronts you about it, or one who doesn't think those things in the first place?

Sometimes we hear things about our friends from third parties that cast our friend in a bad light.

It is generally considered a sign of true friendship if you are able to talk to your friend about anything, even if they are the topic you wish to discuss…

But how good a friend are you if you hear someone saying something negative about your friend and give it any credence in the first place?

Is it one thing to tell your friend that you have heard something bad, but another to then quiz them on it?

Or, conversely, is it your duty to quiz them on it?

Where do you stand on this?