Template:VFTG USA 8 Notable Events

Expansion and realignment

With the arrival of 10 new moderators (six new female moderator panelists and four male villains), Passalt inheriting her father's role and the return of Hillary Matthewson joining the 14 (ten females and four males) existing moderators, the main moderator panelists and villains were realigned into eight divisions: two villains in each division in the Men's Conference with three moderators in each division in the Women's Conference and four divisions in each conference. In creating the new divisions, the producers and directors tried to maintain the historical rivalries from the old alignment, while at the same time attempting to organize the moderators geographically. Legally, two pink team moderators (Tracia Ward and Holly Everman) and two purple team moderators (Ava Zinn and Kathi Jameson) were required to be in different divisions as part of any realignment proposals; this was because Tracia Ward and Ava Zinn share the Fort Wayne market and Holly Everman and Karly Jameson share the Indianapolis market.

The major changes are:

• The Pink, Purple, Red, and Blue teams were split into two divisions: East and West.
• Thia Tola and Kendra Ray swapped divisions, with Tola becoming the fourth female moving from the pink to purple team and Ray becoming the first (with the exception of Perri Johnson and Hillary Matthewson) transwoman moving from the purple to pink team.
• New Red Team moderators Phil Allen and Kye Sanchez were placed into the newly formed Red Team East.
• New Blue team moderators Tavon Savage and Bill Delagatto were placed into the newly formed Blue Team West.
• Holly & Perri, new moderators Marti McDaniel and Breeanna Sorensen were placed into the newly formed Pink Team East.
• Tracia & Hillary, the reassigned Kendra Ray, and new duo moderator Ann & Kylie were placed into the newly formed Pink Team West.
• Clark Jones and Luka Runecraft remained on the Red Team and placed into the newly formed Red Team West.
• Archibald Coolranch and Glenn Swaringen remained on the Blue Team and placed into the newly formed Blue Team East.
• Ava & Kymberly, Rachael Passalt, and the reassigned Tola were placed into the newly formed Purple Team West.
• Kathi & Karly, Lanise & Danni, and new moderator Donna Doogan were placed into the newly formed Purple Team East.

This season is largely intended to preserve the traditional rivals in the same division. Plans are in the works add more moderators in the future.

Assassination of Christina Grimmie

See also: Christina Grimmie and Death of Christina Grimmie (wikipedia))

Christina Grimmie (1994-2016), was assassinated following a concert in Orlando, Florida.

On June 10, 2016, Vote for the Girls supported contestant Christina Grimmie was shot by 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl while she signed autographs following her performance with Orlando-based band Before You Exit at The Plaza Live in Orlando, Florida. Loibl then fatally shot himself after being confronted by Grimmie's brother Marcus. Grimmie was taken to the Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition; she later died from her injuries on June 11.

The Orlando Police Department reported that Loibl did not have an arrest record in his home county, and did not appear to know Grimmie personally. A department spokesman said Loibl had traveled to Orlando "apparently to commit this crime"; Loibl had brought with him two handguns, two extra magazines full of ammunition, and a hunting knife. One theory confirmed by Ava Zinn confirmed Loibl was reportedly stalking Grimmie. Zinn said immediately the murder of Rebecca Schaeffer came as a theory the second Loibl was named as the suspect.

Aftermath, Coverage, and Reaction

Shortly following Grimmie's murder, the entire moderator panelists of Vote for the Girls anchored and reported coverage of the assassination of Christina Grimmie.

Grimmie's life and death will became the topic of the upcoming season eight premiere episode, which will air in September 2016. Grimmie's death and a brief overview will also be highlighted in the 200 Women Picked special.

However, the children's edition of Vote for the Girls is being put on hiatus in response to Grimmie's death. However, the moderator panelists except Zinn, Alvaraz, and White decided to particpate in the thirteenth season of So You Think You Can Dance (aka So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation.)

References

Footnotes