No, the opposite. Jeff Dean is known for exceptional kindness and humility. He is the kind of person that wouldn't have a problem with a researcher standing up for ethics.
Therefore, the implication is that anybody Jeff Dean cannot bear is an unbearable asshole.
Does Google have a particularly effective PR machine? I think people like Google because of things like search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Android, etc. - not because they are some PR wizard.
They dont :), but unless someone is willing to take the risk themselves and stand up to defend Google, what is reported in the press will then be simply known as "truth". And it is their PR's job to do something about it. Although arguably not doing something about it is also a variable option.
Therefore, the implication is that anybody Jeff Dean cannot bear is an unbearable asshole.