I think the explanation is simple. I also think the explanation applies to many of our other "conspiracy theories".

There was an event, it was real. It was noticed and reported on. It panicked the powers that be. They initiated a dilution campaign. That is, they salted the web with a wide range of BS events that take the focus off of the one (or more) true events. This sets up any reporting of the original real event or subsequent real events as total tin foil hat stuff.

This is my theory and I'm sure if you look around and consider the method, there are other conspiracy theories to which it could apply.