We’re no strangers to heartbreaks. They come in strange ways, like it happened for Stephen A. Smith on Tuesday. ESPN’s prized possession knew something was going on, but to see Molly Qerim walk away? Oh no, he didn’t see that coming. For over a decade, while Stephen A. brought fiery words and loud statements on First Take, Qerim remained the calm presence. The perfect guide for debates. But now she’s leaving the network, and SAS can’t make peace with it.
On the Stephen A. Smith Show, the 57-year-old took 3 minutes and 35 seconds to speak about his First Take co-host. Smith poured his heart out about Qerim’s exit. He called her a friend, a partner, and the soul who made his job lighter. Shocked yet respectful, he left the reasons for her to reveal. “To say that I’m quite sad about it is an understatement,” Smith shared.
“Molly is a friend; Molly is a coworker. Molly is somebody that I have leaned on on many occasions in the past, as she has done when it comes to me,” Stephen A. continued. “We’ve been partners on the show for the last 10 years. A lot of times, some of these things happen, and it’s just uncomfortable to see.” Meanwhile, he made it clear the inside story belongs to Molly alone. He admitted knowing little beyond the fact that ESPN fought to keep her. Yet she chose to leave on her own terms. SAS feels shocked, yet he respects her choice.
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While reading out from the 41-year-old IG Story that had the farewell message on Tuesday, Smith said, “To be blunt, it came as a shock. I was not aware that this was something she was contemplating doing.” He added, “But in the end, she made her decision, and we have to move on as a show. I don’t like it. I’m not happy about it. I appreciate her and what she has meant to me, what she has meant to the show, what she has meant to the network, what she’s meant to the business, and I’m going to miss her. It’s just that simple.”
To be fair, Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim have hosted First Take for 10 years. Therefore, Smith is taking this exit more like a personal loss. He also made it clear that it wasn’t the audience’s business to know why his co-host made the decision. Simply put, SAS made his love and appreciation for Qerim even clearer than the doubts around her exit.
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Stephen A. credited Molly as the steady force behind a decade of triumphs. He admitted his spotlight felt brighter because she stood beside him. With effortless grace, she made the grind smoother and the show stronger. Therefore, he confessed his success came easier, all thanks to her unwavering presence. “Because of that, I just wanted to wish her the best,” Smith expressed. “Let her know the love is always here from me, from my personal assistant, my right hand Somatra, from my security Juvie, my sister Carmen, and so many people who have loved her and loved on her over the years. We’ve got nothing but love for her.”
Well, Molly Qerim closed a remarkable chapter at ESPN after two decades, nearly ten of them guiding First Take with unmatched poise. She brought order to chaos, balanced fiery debates, and crafted a style that changed sports conversation forever. Therefore, her exit feels monumental, leaving behind an influence that stretches far beyond one desk or one show.
Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith opened Tuesday’s First Take with a heartfelt message. Ten years create a bond that feels like home. But when that bond walks away, sadness follows. That is exactly what SAS revealed, wearing his emotions openly as he spoke about Molly Qerim’s sudden departure.
Stephen A. Smith praised Molly Qerim as she wrote her farewell note
Stephen A. Smith set the stage on Tuesday with emotion pouring through every word. He praised Molly Qerim as the heartbeat of the show, saying, “She’s been an enormous part of our success for a decade. Not only did she keep me and many others in line, she did it with dignity, class, and kindness to say the least.” His admiration wrapped her legacy in warmth, strength, and affection.
Then, with a voice carrying both pride and sorrow, he reminded fans of her graceful run. He opened with, “Normally, our friend Molly Qerim would greet you. However, Molly announced last night she will be departing from ESPN.” Looking back, he called her years full of “grace, expertise, and incomparable kindness.” His confession, “I will miss spending every weekday morning with her right by my side,” captured the heartbreak of change. Marcus Spears and Chris Canty filled the seats, but the absence was surely undeniable.
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Molly Qerim walked away, but her shadow still sits at that First Take desk. Stephen A. Smith poured out shock, respect, and a whole lot of love, proving her presence shaped more than debates. She turned chaos into rhythm, made fire feel balanced, and left a standard nearly untouchable. The show rolls on, yet her absence speaks louder than words.