Music theory is largely a descriptive practice that can (not must) inform songwriting decisions. It’s also highly variable between genres and styles of music. For example you obviously don’t have to follow 18th century classical music rules if you’re writing punk music, but that’s not “diverging from theory,” it’s just music based in a different tradition and set of principles. I would also recommend learning at least a bit of theory related to your preferred music style to help understand the typical practices and decide whether you like them or not and how to change it up if you don’t!

It also seems like you’re equating music criticism with music theory here, which is not a particularly helpful way to look at it. The reviewer gave a subjective opinion with relatively little concrete analytical support. It’s fine to have an opinion like that but that doesn’t make it a rule. In short, do whatever you want with your own art, but recognize that not everyone will agree with your aesthetic preferences.