I imagine the conversation went like this -

Physicists: "There is no credible evidence for extra-terrestrial life."

Science Journalist: "Could aliens be among us and they are just undetectable?"

Physicists: "Psh. I mean if you are going to say that then you might as well say that invisible gnomes are using moonbeams to make chutney. Hell, for all we know aliens could be using black holes as quantum computers."

Science Journalist: ...