"bit of a sensationalist" is reasonable feedback; no slack needed. After all, this is how they learn.
what have you made lately?
So what are we supposed to do? Dox him, find who his friends are, and use them to backchannel feedback? I think the "sensationalist" critique is direct and actionable - just don't do it.
And I think expecting that all criticism must come from people the target of it knows and trusts is a bit much.
> what have you made lately?
Plenty of stuff. But that's irrelevant. People are free to give feedback regardless of what they've been working on.