Stephen A. Smith finally addresses Molly Qerim’s abrupt First Take exit as fans seek answers

Fans of ESPN’s First Take were surprised last September when longtime host Molly Qerim suddenly stepped away from the show after nearly ten years. Now, months later, Stephen A. Smith has finally opened up about what happened. Speaking on the Netflix show The White House with Michael Irvin, Smith made it clear that the decision did not come from him, even though he serves as an executive producer. He said Qerim chose to leave because of personal issues he would not discuss. What stood out most was how emotional Smith sounded while talking about his former co-host. He said he never wanted her to leave and described her exit as unfortunate after spending a decade working side by side. The comments gave fans a clearer picture of how unexpected the change was inside the show as well, not just for viewers watching at home. Smith said during the interview, “Molly decided that she wanted to leave, and she had some issues that I’m not going to discuss. It wasn’t with me.” He also added, “When it happened, it was incredibly unfortunate. I loved Molly. I didn’t want her to leave.” His words showed that their professional relationship remained strong until the end. Qerim had been the full-time host since September 15, 2015. On September 15, 2025, she hosted her final episode before announcing she was stepping away. In her own message on Instagram, she wrote, “After much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to close this incredible chapter and step away from First Take.” She thanked viewers and said hosting the show had been one of the greatest honors of her career. Reports later said ESPN was already preparing for changes, but Qerim left before her contract ended. ESPN content president Burke Magnus confirmed the network had planned a host change, while Smith admitted he did not know she was considering leaving so soon. Since leaving ESPN, Qerim has moved to Paramount+ as part of Zuffa Boxing coverage, while First Take brought in Shae Cornette as a replacement host. Even with the change, Smith said he still misses working with her after ten years together.