Anyone here remember those Pokeshipping Vs. Pearlshipping debates from a decade ago? Before Serena existed, all the Misty fans were getting butt-hurt over how "close" Ash and Dawn seemed in DP, they would constantly call Dawn a, "skank" or say she was "too girly" and stuff like that.
Before that Pokeshippers all hated May until they realized she wasn't a thread to Misty, then they all became Contestshippers. Then the Pokeshippers all hated Dawn for similar reasons, and now its Serena/Amour for obvious shipping.
It seems to me Pokeshippers will go crazy at any girl they consider a thread to their "AAML." That's why they didn't mind Iris, or the SM girls so far.