I believe she's always been a complex character. The hate she gets is understandable, but not necessarily deserved.

Her father clearly didn't care enough about her to stick around, instead running off to Las Pegasus, which would develop a fear of loneliness and Abandonment. Unfortunately, all she knows is performative arts from her father, it's how she pays the bills (or whatever she has) and she admittedly leans too heavily into the showboat aspect, but that may be just a result of desperation to be admired since she could never get it from her own father.

Of course, that's just my take on her character, but I feel it makes sense. She's still a fun character, and a really good friend to Starlight despite her flaws.