I don’t think any one should be claiming Linus doesn’t like it because he doesn’t know it
I didn't think anyone was making that claim? Either way I'm certainly not trying to.
If he wants to contribute to this project, it must be C++.
Yes, this is true, it's just that he was also included in the decision making process to switch to it in the first place, and I feel like his continued use of it makes me think it doesn't have to be as awful as everyone makes it out to be, or he wouldn't use it at all.