I have had some of the largest whales on the platform downvote me for weeks at a time, I have had two orcas downvote me consistently for the last 3 months. I am no stranger to getting downvoted, nor to controversy, but the difference likely is that I don't bitch about it, I suck it up and do my thing as I have always done.
I'm glad you were able to "weather the storm".
A lot of others haven't been that lucky.