I don't think you gotta worry about it influencing your art, when you take inspiration from someone you usually take what you like and leave the rest behind, so if there's plenty of negative stuff you don't like about that person I don't think any of it will stick with you.
53xy83457
That's quite the pickle. For what it's worth, I don't think there's any danger of it surfacing in your art / character design. They always struck me as... wholesome, I guess (for lack of a better word). Cute witch is just a cute witch.