If there are issues with a new neighbor, and you state a factual issue, is this gossip?

We have new neighbors in our tight small subdivision. Most of us have known each other 15 yrs or so, and we have a few new couples that fit in very well. We just had a new set of neighbors move in, and I knew it was going to be a problem because my sister, who worked with them at the same Law Firm. I inquired if the new neigbors were comming to the party and informed, no. Then, I was told in detail, how they have been exceptionally rude, one neighbor told me she was told over 4 times to F-another said the same thing, several said they were threatended and told by these new neighbors that they would sue them if they ever steped foot on their property. Others relayed the difficulty in getting them to pay their road maintenance dues, how vulgar this couple had been, how they refused, demanded line by line item detail, called everyone liars, etc. The neighbors were under the perception that these were multi multi millionairs with tons of money and owners of a huge law firm. Well, I had not said anything to date, but I know the couple from my sister an attorney who worked with them before they left the firm 2 yrs ago, he was made to leave due to he and his wife fighting in the office and an office affair. They then opened their own firm, and won a 1.5 million dollar case which when paid out settlement, they bought the house. They are nuvo rich and spending lots of money however, have lots of overhead, etc. I also said that my sister found them downright vulgar in the workplace so much that she woul d not attend meetings, even general meetings as they were so downright for no reason, nasty. Well, our host who has made many comments, really catty nasty comments, said loudly "NOW, this is GOSSIP. WE SHOULD NOT GOSSIP, I WON"T STAND FOR IT.....". I was really embarrassed. My husand said, well Karen, Liz is not gossiping. This true, her sister worked with both and knows them very well. I wasn't sure who was right or wrong. Other neighbors were stating that they were told to F-off, the entire neighborhood could F-Off (it goes on and on the new neighbors have gotten into it with several other neighbors). They were stating their issues. Well, I was really embarrassed. I was "called out" for gossipping, loudly and corrected like a child in front of everyone. This was by the party host. I thought I was just stating facts. Our host has been really catty (which is why I asked my sister in the first place, given our hosts behavior in the past). Others were saying certain things. Should I write the host an apology letter? What do I do, I am really embarrassed and feel aweful. Worse, I feel childlike, chastised in front of our neighbors in a party. What to do?