Molly Qerim, the long-time host of ESPN’s First Take, announced her departure from the network and the show on Monday, after a decade of hosting alongside Stephen A. Smith.
The highly opinionated Smith is not happy about it. He contradicted reports that said Qerim would be departing at the end of the year, saying she had “abruptly resigned.”
He did, however, note that Qerim’s exit followed contract negotiations with ESPN, but insisted the network wanted her back.
“To say that I’m quite sad about it is an understatement,” said Smith. “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,” he continued. “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.”
What happened with Molly Qerim?
Qerim reflected on her tenure with the network as one of the greatest honors of her career in an emotional post on Instagram.
“After much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to close this incredible chapter and step away from First Take,” she said, much to everybody’s surprise.
“Hosting this show has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” added Qerim. “Every morning, I had the privilege of sharing the desk with some of the most brilliant, passionate, and entertaining voices in sports — and with all of you, the best fans in the world.”
Smith, one of those “brilliant” sports voices, hinted that he knows why Molly Qerim left ESPN. But he ain’t gonna tell you anytime soon, suggesting it’s for her to discuss somewhere down the line.
“Do I have an idea (why she left), of course I do. Am I going to share it with you? No. Because again that’s her story to tell.”
READ MORE: ‘First Take’ Host Molly Qerim Out at ESPN
Not happy about It
While he’s not divulging any details just yet, Stephen A. Smith is clearly not happy that ESPN and Qerim couldn’t work something out. He hints at not truly understanding her decision.
“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,” Smith added. “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.”
Qerim has been with ESPN since 2006, initially joining the digital and mobile team before becoming the permanent host of First Take in 2015. She started as a fill-in host.