Linus said of anyone who disagreed with his approach and wanted to have dialogue (such as this guy) that they are "random internet people who I seriously suspect are paid actors and/or have been riled up by them."

That's multiple levels of insinuation and weasel words but does allege that this guy is a "paid actor"... any anyone else who disagrees with Linus. He doesn't even acknowledge random internet people that have been riled up not by "paid actors" but by his own boneheaded approach to this issue, and are directing their criticism at him in the hopes he and his organisation will do better next time. Linus being Linus.