‘Aqil reported: Al-Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “It is not backbiting to speak against three people: a follower of whims, an obstinate sinner who publicizes his sins, and a tyrannical ruler.”
Source: al-Ṣamt li Ibn Abī Dunyā 234
Al-Ghazali said, “The commonality between these three is that they are open about their sin and maybe even take pride in it, so how could they dislike mention of that while they intended to show it?”
Source: Iḥyā’ ‘Ulūm al-Dīn 3/153
عَنْ عَقِيلٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ ثَلَاثَةٌ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ غِيبَةٌ صَاحِبُ هَوًى وَالْفَاسِقُ الْمُعْلِنُ بِالْفِسْقِ وَالْإِمَامُ الْجَائِرُ
234 الصمت وآداب اللسان
قال الغزالي فهؤلاء الثلاثة يجمعهم أنهم يتظاهرون به وربما يتفاخرون به فكيف يكرهون ذلك وهم يقصدون إظهاره
3/153 إحياء علوم الدين