Yeah, the distinction is subtle but it is there. In a broad sense, both criticisms are questioning the integrity of your appreciation for the character.
But when it comes to "silly shallow fangirls only like white male character because hotness," the implication is that the fans like the character for the wrong reasons (wherein, a "right reason" may or may not exist, depending on who you you ask--often, especially in the "Trash Villain" category, the implication is that they shouldn't like the character at all).
Whereas when it comes to "vegetables" and "Awesome Ladeez," the implication seems to be that the fans like f/f or Awesome Female Character insincerely, for purposes of Virtue and social justice capital. (And as another anon has pointed out, this also gets applied to fans of characters of color.)
And I'd go out on a limb and say that in a broad sense the latter is at least some degree of pushback against the former, in the sense of "No, it is you that is shallow."
TL;DR they're both accusations of shallow engagement but the devil is in the details.
Re: The wildest takes
But when it comes to "silly shallow fangirls only like white male character because hotness," the implication is that the fans like the character for the wrong reasons (wherein, a "right reason" may or may not exist, depending on who you you ask--often, especially in the "Trash Villain" category, the implication is that they shouldn't like the character at all).
Whereas when it comes to "vegetables" and "Awesome Ladeez," the implication seems to be that the fans like f/f or Awesome Female Character insincerely, for purposes of Virtue and social justice capital. (And as another anon has pointed out, this also gets applied to fans of characters of color.)
And I'd go out on a limb and say that in a broad sense the latter is at least some degree of pushback against the former, in the sense of "No, it is you that is shallow."
TL;DR they're both accusations of shallow engagement but the devil is in the details.