>>281549355
You can't prove that.
I just saw the archives around those months in 2013.
My point is that the main series of Madoka show very few things that would attract yurifags, and only the most delusional ones would see yuri there.
I can see Rebellion as the movie that made yurifags feel more confident about their yuri statements. Like an invitation to being less ironic.
Most proofs of the "yuri subtext" yurifags bring here of the main series are symbolysm. Like the thread of fate or another things that can have more than one interpretation.
The proofs that yurifags bring here of rebellion are scenes like handholding, the boat, the declaration of love of homura, rebellion promotional images, they are more blatant. It gave them more fuel. Just my 2 cents.