Stephen A. Smith hints at reason why Molly Qerim ‘abruptly resigned’ from ESPN: ‘Not happy about it’
Stephen A. Smith said that his now-former “First Take” co-star, Molly Qerim, “abruptly resigned” from ESPN on Monday night, “effective immediately,” after 10 years of sharing the same airwaves.
During Tuesday’s installment of his Sirius XM show, Smith explained that ESPN didn’t want to lose Qerim amid contract negotiations with the host, adding “it’s just uncomfortable to see” and he’s “not happy about it.”
“To say that I’m quite sad about it is an understatement,” he said on “The Stephen A Smith Show,” which aired shortly after Tuesday morning’s “First Take” that didn’t feature Qerim.
“Molly is a friend. Molly is a co-worker. Molly is somebody that I’ve leaned on on many occasions in the past, as she has done when it comes to me. We’ve been partners on the show for the last 10 years, and a lot of times some of these things happen, and it’s just uncomfortable to see.
“The details, quite frankly, are none of y’all’ business. It’s not as if I know all the details. It was a contract negotiation that was going on. ESPN certainly did not want to lose her. But in the end, she made her decision to walk away from the show effective immediately.”
Smith — who read aloud Qerim’s Instagram Story from Tuesday that confirmed her departure — explained he was blindsided by the news.
“To be blunt, it came as a shock. I was not aware that this is something that she was contemplating doing. But in the end, she made her decision and we have to move on as a show,” Smith said.
“I don’t like it. I’m not happy about it because I appreciate her and what she has meant to me, and what she has meant to the show, and what she has meant to the business. And I’m going to miss her. It’s just that simple. But we all make decisions that we deem to being our best interest for whatever reason. And that story is for her to tell. Do I have an idea, of course I do. Am I going to share it with you? No. Because again that’s her story to tell.”
Smith went on to wish Qerim the best and let her know that “the love is always here” after making his life easy on television.
Qerim announced her departure from ESPN on her Instagram Story Tuesday morning, adding the news “came out earlier than I intended.”
Her post came hours after Sports Business Journal reported that she turned down ESPN’s offer for a new contract and will depart the Worldwide Leader at the end of the year.
Smith opened “First Take” on Tuesday with a heartfelt tribute.
“Molly has been an integral part of ESPN since 2006 and a key driver of ‘First Take’s’ success since joining as host a decade ago,” Burke Magnus, president of content at ESPN, said Tuesday, shortly after Qerim’s statement. “She elevated the show with her poise, skill and professionalism, while supporting others as a kind and encouraging teammate.
“We respect Molly’s decision, wish her the best in the future and thank her for her extraordinary daily commitment to sports fans and ESPN.”
ESPN and Qerim did not say when her official last “First Take” show will be.
It’s unclear what’s next for Qerim, who concluded her Instagram Story on Tuesday with, “Stay tuned,” and a smiley face.