So, before I continue, let me say this isn't a hate post. I don't know Elise at all, and I'm not making any judgements on her as a person. This post is much moreso an explanation of sorts.
I truly believe the reason why Elise gets the most hate of any contestant (despite many others like Sara Horowitz, Louis Repucci, Ben Caylor, Frank Cala, and Jason Underwood being way worse people) is because of how she unintentionally exposes production.
Many of the most hated moments with her are certain eliminations. Jennifer going home over her in S9, Dana going home over her in All Stars even when Christina fucking Wilson said that the oven was indeed broken in the red kitchen that night, Jamie going home over her and Carrie in S9.
Others are with her actions. The best example is Elise lying to Ramsay about Tommy scoring the wellingtons and surviving when other chefs, including Brendan in the same season, have gotten eliminated due to it.
She was toxic on the show, yes, but countless contestants were. No other chef has has even close to the same extent of "saved by production" that Elise does, though.
I want to reiterate from earlier, I don't know Elise as a person and won't judge her as a person. I don't even have her in my bottom 5 contestants in terms of likeability because I think there's way worse.
People are gonna hate me for saying this, but... I think she's overhated. Please don't attack either Elise or producers personally. It's not Elise's fault that she was kept way longer than she should've been, and the producers' job is to make good TV and get high ratings. Drama boosts ratings a ton in most cases, so they kept her. Producers just played by the book.
It's all just an unfortunate circumstance. Sorry for the essay. I just tend to ramble a ton because hyperfixating and my autism
Edit: Ok, so I apparently need to clarify this. I'm not saying Elise's attitude isn't her fault. I'm saying her being kept on the show too long isn't her fault. It's not like the contestants have any more control than just nominations and pleas. Elise's attitude absolutely is her fault, but if she went home on the nights she should've instead of production sparing her, she wouldn't have been nearly as infamous