Stephen A. Smith Opens Up Like Never Before About Molly Qerim’s Abrupt ‘First Take’ Exit
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Stephen A. Smith has spoken about Molly Qerim leaving First Take. He shared his thoughts five months after she stepped away from the show. Smith talked about the situation while appearing on The White House with Michael Irvin, a show on Netflix hosted by Michael Irvin and Brandon Marshall.
Smith said he did not want Qerim to leave the show. He also explained that he was not the person who made the decision to remove her.
“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.”
Qerim left ESPN in September after 10 years on First Take. She hosted the show on Sept. 15. By the next morning, she was gone. Smith addressed viewers on air and later spoke on his SiriusXM show. He said the move shocked him and came during contract talks. He also told listeners that “the details, quite frankly, are none of ya’ll business.”
Smith Says Decision Came From Above
Smith pushed back on claims that he could have stopped the change. He serves as host and executive producer of First Take, but he stressed that he answers to network leaders.
“Just because I’m the executive producer of the show doesn’t mean that I’m the boss,” he said. “I have bosses that I answer to.”
All love for Molly Qerim on The White House pod
Stephen A. Smith joins Michael Irvin and Brandon Marshall in a brand new episode of The White House with Michael Irvin, now on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/GJHBSSzqi1
— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) February 13, 2026
ESPN president of content Burke Magnus told The Athletic that the network planned a change. He said, “While we knew we were going to make a change — her deal ran through the end of the year – we were more focused on that timeline.” That plan likely shaped her choice to step away in September instead of staying through the final months.
Smith spoke warmly about his former co-host. “I loved Molly. I didn’t want her to leave,” he said. He praised Shae Cornette, who replaced Qerim in mid-October after ESPN auditioned hosts for about a month. “She knows her sports backwards and forwards. She is the real deal,” he said of Cornette.
Still, Smith pointed to Qerim’s role in the show’s success. “We’re No. 1 all of these years; she was hosting when we were No. 1 all of those years,” he said.
Qerim joined First Take full-time in 2015 after filling in. She grew into a steady presence and kept debates on track. Since leaving ESPN, she has moderated a Q&A with UConn coach Dan Hurley and landed a role hosting Zuffa Boxing events on Paramount+.
Smith says he did what he could. He says he asked leaders to treat her fairly. Then, he says, the show moved on.
