a sucker is born every minute ... but it gets worse
most people are trash and many feel safer in the company of other trash than around those who are morally pure
this person you describe didn't "piss away his reputation" they were always like this and their friends know they are this way and are still friends with them because they are that way themselves ...
you got played because you didn't understand this dynamic ...
and it gets worse still ... because you are the scammer ... everybody who pumps meme assets is
😃