Same here! K&J still have to get a job done and they are having to work around what CMT decides to creatively edit. Their job is to pay attention to viewers reactions, feed those flames, omit to create speculation, and K&J's job is to work around them. K&J know these girls, and cutting someone you know is hard enough, but then to read thousands of faceless comments tearing these girls down would make the best of us go all momma bear. You defend what and who you care about.
As far as VK, Kitty said she had been in the program for years. I use to hire and fire in my job, and if someone had worked for me for years and they had a good work ethic, I definitely gave them more opportunity to prove/disprove themselves compared to an outsider. When it comes to nepotism, you still have to make sure they're qualified, but rest assured, those candidates always get the most outside criticism even when they can run circles around everyone else. VK has plenty of time to grow as a dancer and in maturity. They gave her the opportunity, they observed, they didn't provide stickers where stickers weren't deserved, and CMT gave us what they wanted us to see and hear.
