[keeganpoppen]

if your interviewer/interlocutor has knowledge of this sort of rumor, and you don't get in front of the story, then you're pretty much doomed. if you get out in front of it, there are two possibilities: (1) they didn't know about it, in which case i, for one, would be impressed that someone had the courage to go out of their way to bring this up-- would make me more likely to believe their side as well, since OP's story, while shitty, is not terribly surprising. sure, there's a chance that i'm getting played, as a potential employer, but it's not as though incompetence as such wouldn't be hard to recognize in the first `k` months of employment. (2) they did know about it, in which case the interviewee gets the opportunity to defend him/herself, and the employer is allowed to weigh the evidence.

so, i struggle to see how hiding it is better from a game theory perspective. i do acknowledge that if your resume is strong enough as to "speak for itself", then not mentioning it is a reasonable enough gamble-- if they don't bring it up, and reject you anyway, then they are clearly idiots you don't want to work for anyway.

well, i guess I talked myself into a bit of a circle, but i guess i retain the claim that the prior of "hiding your baggage in all circumstances" is a bit more conservative than i think one needs to be.

[wolco]

I would not address immediately for a variety of reasons. The truth is your story and what happened at previous company probably doesn't matter because they called you in for an interview with or without knowing. If they did not know now you sound less perfect if they did know it probably doesn't matter and if it does they will ask.