Stephen A. Smith FINALLY Reveals Why Molly Qerim Really Left ESPN! 

Molly Qerim’s departure from ESPN’s “First Take” on September 15, 2025, sent shockwaves through the sports media world.

For 10 years, Qerim had been the steady hand guiding heated debates between outsized personalities like Stephen A. Smith, elevating the show to become ESPN’s flagship program.

Her abrupt resignation, however, exposed cracks in the seemingly harmonious facade of one of television’s most successful sports shows.

The fallout has revealed troubling issues of pay disparity, workplace dynamics, and the power struggles that ultimately led to her departure.

The announcement came with little warning.

On September 15th, Qerim hosted “First Take” as usual, showing no signs that her exit was imminent.

Hours later, the Sports Business Journal broke the story that she had declined a contract extension and would be leaving ESPN immediately.

The next morning, Stephen A. Smith addressed her departure on air, calling her “an enormous part of [the show’s] success” and expressing heartfelt gratitude for their partnership.

But Smith’s comments later that day on his Sirius XM radio show painted a different picture, one of confusion and frustration.

“I’m quite sad about it,” he said, admitting that he didn’t know the full story behind her decision.

The timeline of events underscores the suddenness of the departure.

ESPN’s president of content, Burke Magnus, later revealed that the premature leak of the story had created an untenable situation, forcing Qerim’s hand.

But the abruptness wasn’t the only shocking element.

The financial disparity between Qerim and her male colleagues has emerged as a major factor in her decision to leave.

Stephen A. Smith, the face of “First Take,” signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension in March 2025, earning $20 million annually.

In contrast, Qerim’s salary was estimated to be between $500,000 and $600,000 per year—roughly 33 to 40 times less than her co-host.

Despite her integral role in the show’s success, Qerim’s compensation didn’t even approach the salaries of other male ESPN personalities like Kirk Herbstreit ($18 million annually), Mike Greenberg ($6.5 million), or the co-hosts of “Pardon the Interruption” ($6 million each).

Even younger female talent like Malika Andrews reportedly earned multi-million-dollar annual contracts, further highlighting the disparity.

Former ESPN analyst Marcellus Wiley speculated that Qerim felt undervalued and disrespected, particularly as she watched other deals unfold around her.

Wiley theorized that Qerim approached ESPN seeking a raise that reflected her contributions, but the network’s offer fell far short—what he characterized as a lowball.

This perceived disrespect may have been the final straw, especially when rival network Fox Sports reportedly offered her a deal worth $2 million per year, quadruple her ESPN salary.

What complicates the narrative further is Stephen A. Smith’s alleged lack of advocacy during Qerim’s contract negotiations.

As ESPN’s highest-paid personality and one of its most influential figures, Smith had the power to push for more equitable treatment of his co-host.

But according to industry insiders, that support never materialized.

Wiley suggested that Qerim’s disappointment in Smith’s silence played a significant role in her decision to leave.

Her Instagram post announcing her departure conspicuously omitted any mention of Smith, despite their decade-long partnership—a detail many observers found telling.

Beyond the financial disparity, workplace dynamics also appear to have contributed to Qerim’s exit.

Over the years, there were moments on “First Take” that raised eyebrows about the professional environment.

Smith’s comments about Qerim’s appearance, such as the infamous “show a little shoulder” remark, often straddled the line between playful banter and inappropriate objectification.

The October 2023 “vibrating phone” incident, where Smith repeatedly emphasized the word “vibrating” in a segment, left Qerim visibly uncomfortable and sparked viral discussions about workplace boundaries.

These interactions created a dynamic where Qerim was frequently the subject of attention for reasons unrelated to her professional skills.

This may have contributed to a perception that her value to the show was seen differently than Smith’s, despite their shared success.

When it came time for contract negotiations, this dynamic likely influenced how ESPN assessed her contributions.

Creative differences also played a role.

Smith’s influence at ESPN had grown exponentially, giving him significant input into programming decisions, guest selections, and personnel matters.

This power imbalance inevitably affected his relationship with Qerim.

Wiley suggested that Qerim felt sidelined in these decisions and lacked a true advocate in her corner.

The fallout from Qerim’s departure has sparked broader conversations about pay equity and the treatment of female talent in sports media.

The stark contrast between Smith’s $20 million annual salary and Qerim’s under-$600,000 paycheck has become emblematic of the gender pay gap that persists in the industry.

If someone with Qerim’s credentials and proven track record couldn’t secure fair compensation, what does that say about ESPN’s commitment to equity?

The network’s handling of her departure has also raised questions.

Within hours of announcing Qerim’s exit, ESPN revealed that Malika Andrews had signed a lucrative multi-year contract extension.

Social media users noted the timing, suggesting the network was eager to move forward and send a message that no one person was irreplaceable.

ESPN announced plans to conduct on-air tryouts to fill Qerim’s position, further emphasizing that the show would continue without her.

For her part, Qerim has remained largely silent about the specifics of her departure, leaving fans and analysts to speculate.

Meanwhile, Smith’s restrained comments have fueled criticism about whether he could have done more to support his co-host.

His choice not to leverage his considerable influence to advocate for Qerim represents a missed opportunity for meaningful allyship, according to many observers.

Molly Qerim’s exit from ESPN and “First Take” serves as a watershed moment for conversations about value, compensation, and equity in sports media.

Her decade of service and essential role in the show’s success should have guaranteed her fair treatment.

The fact that it didn’t reveals systemic issues that extend far beyond one person or one network.

As fans continue to debate the circumstances of her departure, the lessons from this situation will resonate across the industry.