Lionel Messi is the exact reason you should live solely on your own terms.
The man speaks ill of no one. He disrespects neither teammates nor rivals. He is the best to ever do his craft. Yet he has dedicated haters. If ever a man (let alone a player) should have had no haters, it is Messi. Still, on account of nothing but his matchless success, he commands a horde of them.
Do what thou wilt. People will talk regardless.
A life lived minding what people will say is a wasted life.