I see this claim repeated ad-nauseam that the writers had to make Homelander more obviously evil in later seasons because conservatives saw him as a hero in season 1. But I have yet to see any proof of this claim.
In season 1 Homelander was a psychotic man-child who suckled mother's milk from Stillwell. He murdered a plane full of innocent people. He murders a mayor and his son in cold blood.
I just don't see what anyone would see as "heroic" about him. And I've never seen anyone praise him as a hero except strawmen.