I first recognized this trend in an Alan Alda movie called The Four Seasons. In it three couples take regular vacations together. One of the couples splits up and the husband brings his new bride on the next trip.
She adores and admires him and isn’t afraid to show it. The other two wives are appalled that she is letting the side down by not putting him down. I found it quite amazing that the intentional crushing of a man’s spirit could be portrayed as so normal, even expected.
Some women treat men with contempt in an attempt to get the men to do more for them, in order to “earn” women’s approval. A woman who gives lots of admiration undercuts that scheme, and gets resented. It’s worse if she’s younger and more beautiful than the contemptuous wives, as it causes the husbands to think “Why do I stay with my wife when there are women like this one out there?”