Stephen A. Smith Opens Up Like Never Before About Molly Qerim’s Abrupt ‘First Take’ Exit
The Exit That Shook Bristol
Qerim hosted First Take on September 15. By the next morning, she was gone an abrupt exit after 10 years with the show. Smith addressed viewers on air that day and later spoke on his SiriusXM show, telling listeners that “the details, quite frankly, are none of ya’ll business.”
“Molly decided that she wanted to leave, and she had some issues that I’m not going to discuss,” Smith said. “It wasn’t with me, but she had some issues that was foremost on her mind and she made the decision to abruptly resign.
The Network’s Role
Smith was careful to push back on any narrative that he could have stopped the change. Despite serving as both host and executive producer of First Take, he made clear his power has limits.
“Just because I’m the executive producer of the show doesn’t mean that I’m the boss,” he explained. “I have bosses that I answer to.”
ESPN president of content Burke Magnus later confirmed to The Athletic that the network planned a change, noting Qerim’s deal ran through the end of the year.
The Praise
Through it all, Smith made one thing crystal clear: he didn’t want her to go.
“I loved Molly. I didn’t want her to leave.”
He credited Qerim as a foundational piece of First Take’s decade-long dominance. “We’re No. 1 all of these years; she was hosting when we were No. 1 all of those years.”
He also offered strong endorsement of her replacement, Shae Cornette, who took over in mid-October after a month-long audition process. “She knows her sports backwards and forwards. She is the real deal.”
What’s Next for Qerim
Since leaving ESPN, Qerim has kept busy. She moderated a Q&A with UConn coach Dan Hurley and landed a role hosting Zuffa Boxing events on Paramount+. The next chapter is already taking shape.
The Bottom Line
Smith says he did what he could. He asked leaders to treat her fairly. He advocated behind the scenes. And when she left, he moved forward because that’s what the show requires.
“I loved Molly. I didn’t want her to leave.”Sometimes, even Stephen A. Smith doesn’t get the final say.
