Leave this ego fight on the curb. Going forward with it will only haunt you as you get older. That is this stuff never stays buried, and in these times of data scrapping a future employer may hear of it. Guess what it will Blackball you.
Yes your ego is screaming do it, your friends are cheering you on, and guess what you have to lie with the consequences; both in the present and the future. This is the time to walk away and say nothing, do nothing.
You say you are not US based, the theme is custard so I will guess former Commonwealth possibly India. If so remember the long memories. Just saying, good luck
“Better a true enemy than a false friend.”