It only needs to be לתועלת when he wasn’t פורק מעליו עול מלכות שמים לגמרי as the CC concludes. Would this qualify?
Also, the C’C is talking about the guy who’s literally breaking the news, not people discussing the details. Im not sure it’s the same.
Don't think it's fair to conclude פורק מעליו עול מלכות שמים לגמרי
By the fact that he tried keeping his frum wife/child and good name by going to great lengths to cover up and live the "double life" it's fair to say this was taavah based, probably fell and picked himself up and fell again, trying to change and falling again and reasonable to conclude Lebo Bashomyim