Must one seek absolution from those who were backbitten in a gathering of backbiting, after repeatedly being forbidden and defended regarding their honor, or is denial sufficient? And is the statement "So-and-so came, and so-and-so was absent" considered backbiting?

A Muslim must denounce evil, advise those who commit it, and defend his brother's honor, even if this does not lead to the abandonment of the evil. If those who commit the evil do not stop backbiting, then he must leave the gathering if possible; otherwise, he must denounce it in his heart. You did well in forbidding backbiting, and you should have left the gathering if you could, otherwise, denounce it in your heart, which is the weakest of faith. You are not required to seek forgiveness from those they backbit, as long as you did not backbite them. It is not permissible to tell anyone what happened, as it involves forbidden tale-bearing and backbiting. There is no sin upon you for what happened as long as you fulfilled your duty. And saying, "So-and-so came" is not backbiting, as long as the literal meaning of the word is maintained. Backbiting is: mentioning your brother with what he dislikes.