Mate we all have problems in real life, but it's not really an execuse. It's the principle and morals that go with it. If you make it acceptable for person, what's stopping the next person blaming it on problems, but just informing someone and communicating is what community is all about, rather than promising then going away.
But as I said you are his friend so of course you are going to defend him, it's cool but I guess we are going to disagree on that.