The statement of one who backbites, saying, "I said it to his face," and whether that constitutes backbiting

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The questioner says: Many people, when they mention something blameworthy about someone and we remind them of the evil of backbiting, reply to us by saying, "I have already said that to his face before," or "Nothing prevents me from saying it to his face now." Is this considered backbiting?

Answer:
Yes, this is backbiting; this is backbiting. As for his saying, "I said it to his face," or "I am ready to say it to his face," that does not make backbiting permissible for him. As long as the person is absent from the gathering, do not speak about him. Yes.