1. to speak of or treat slightingly; depreciate; belittle: Do not disparage good manners.
2. to bring reproach or discredit upon; lower the estimation of: Your behavior will disparage the whole family.
People are way too sensitive when someone speaks the truth. If her work performance was poor, it may have been a disparaging remark, but it may also have been true. (Just as Cain says America needs to get a sense of humor, America also needs to get a thicker skin. If it's true that she was a poor worker, then she brought it on herself by being a poor worker. If he's making it up, then it's slander, not disparaging.)
There is an entire generation, mostly the women, who cannot distinguish unvarnished, unpleasant truth from liable, let alone the nuances of disparagement vs. slander.
My experience with these women is that, faced with an uncomfortably truthful assessment of their work or personal efforts, first allege illegality against the speaker and then scream for an attorney. If the attorney declines to accept their *case*, they then slink away silently to nurse a huge grudge against the person who had the temerity to tell them the truth.
They also usually have enormous, unearned self-esteem and totally unrealistic belief in their own competence and physical appeal.
If the names of these women are released, I will bet that there are numerous instances of the above in their personal lives.