A bad rep is inevitable due to the frothing at the mouth subset of the fan base that is obnoxiously pro loli. Sexualizing kids will always turn off a majority of the people in the world, animated or not. And shouting "free speech!" at them isn't going to change their mind. It will just make them more wary of the entire medium and assume that you are a pedophile.

It's similar to how defenders of the education system act like the institution is sacred and beyond reproach while the public sees drag queen story hour being implemented with no push back from within.

So ignore the attacks and watch whatever you want to watch, because nothing is changing any time soon.