Skunk Auto - First time topping

Dont remove the leaves, looks like you are in full on flowering mode it may be that it needs a drop of calmag. The symptoms fit the stage. It will be burning through nutrients now to flower as much as possible, dont forget.

No fan leaves are not an indication of bud rot. Does it smell bad? Bud rot generally has a putrid rot smell to it. Fan leaves getting messed yo in flower is most of the time a little hungry or experiencing some nutrient lock out. But to me it just looks like the plant is consuming fan leaves to make your dank flower fatter. So if it smells as it should I wouldn’t worry to much and ride it out.

No it’s not really necessary. You’re going to end up trimming that stuff at harvest time so it’s now worth making wounds while she’s still finishing up her flowering cycle.