- When is a mystery.
In truth Punk still despises the sheep-like nature of the fans, and their blind support of anything remotely popular or cool (Ryder, insider references, pop culture zingers). Instead of outright addressing it, he chose to publicly embrace it, both to gain personal profit for himself via t-shirts, ice cream bars, etc and to covertly insult the older WWE fans who lap up everything he says, just as young fans do with John Cena. When he makes an eventual Heel–Face Turn Punk will go into detail about how easily he used them, and mock their blind acceptance to anyone who even slightly panders to them.
One need only look at the lyrics to Punk's theme song to know the real truth:
I exploit you, still you love me
I tell you, one and one makes three
You gave me fortune, you gave me fame
You gave me power in your God's name
I'm every person you need to be
I'm the Cult of Personality
- Confirmed as of Punk's promo on January 7, 2013 during his feud with the Rock.