Home / Sports / ESPN Taps Shae Cornette to Replace Molly Qerim on First Take
ESPN Taps Shae Cornette to Replace Molly Qerim on First Take
16 Oct
Summary
- Shae Cornette selected to host "First Take" after Molly Qerim's departure
- Stephen A. Smith, earning $20M annually, is involved in the decision
- Cornette has hosted radio and TV programs at ESPN since 2020
In a significant move, ESPN has announced that Shae Cornette will be the new host of the popular sports talk show "First Take," replacing Molly Qerim who departed the program last month. Cornette was selected after a month-long audition process, and she is set to officially take over the hosting duties on November 3.
The decision to bring in Cornette is noteworthy, as she will be working alongside Stephen A. Smith, one of ESPN's highest-paid performers who earns a staggering $20 million annually. Smith, who is also the executive producer of the "Embrace Debate" program, is expected to have a say in the final decision.
Cornette's appointment comes after Qerim's abrupt departure from "First Take" last month. While the reasons for Qerim's exit were not entirely clear, it was speculated that it may have been related to contract negotiations and her future at the network. ESPN has since tried out several other hosts, including Peter Schrager, Amina Smith, MJ Acosta, Courtney Cronin, and Joe Fortenbaugh, before ultimately selecting Cornette.
Cornette, who joined ESPN in 2020, has extensive experience in the industry, having worked in Chicago media for decades, including stints at ABC 7, Fox 32, and ESPN 1000. She has also served as a SportsCenter anchor and studio host for both TV and radio at ESPN.
