Imagine that Rodimus is openly affectionate to his crew. Hand holding, pats on shoulders, platonic cuddles, full kisses on the lips of his peers.
This is where the mecha who don't like him take the opportunity to call him a slut. Nah, he's just affectionate to the crew. You'd know that if he liked you like that. (Side eyes Getaway.)
He does his best to shake it off when the rumors circulate like they aways do. Nyon was an openly affectionate place for most facets of social individuals. Those rumors didn't stop him, only slowed him down from public displays with the crew. It was noticed when he kept his arms crossed or didn't open mouth kiss Magnus, Megatron, Drift, or anyone as thanks for doing their duties.
It got to a point that the mecha who spoke the most sass thought they won, embarrassed him to not be so grossly affectionate. Rodimus would not have thought it was a problem but muted his cultural responses.
The mecha who liked him or didn't mind the gestures found him after a could orns of no affections. They didn't realize that the rumors had really gotten to Rodimus as when it's brought up, his spoilers drop and he has to turn away so they can't see his optics water.
Queue the harem of Mecha who like him love him pull him away from behind his desk and into a warm embrace. All of them. I imagine, Mags, Megs, Dratchet, and Swerve, (maybe Nautica or Thunders too).
