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Stephen A. Smith Misses Former 'First Take' Host
14 Feb
Summary
- Stephen A. Smith commented on Molly Qerim's departure from 'First Take'.
- Qerim abruptly resigned in September after a decade as host.
- Smith expressed he loved Qerim and didn't want her to leave.
Stephen A. Smith recently discussed the departure of Molly Qerim, his former co-host on the ESPN show 'First Take.' Qerim's unexpected resignation occurred in September 2025, after she had helmed the program for a decade.
Appearing on Netflix's 'The White House with Michael Irvin,' Smith clarified that Qerim's decision to leave was her own and not related to him, despite his role as executive producer. He stated that Qerim had personal issues on her mind that led to her abrupt resignation.
Smith shared that he valued his decade-long working relationship with Qerim, affectionately noting, "I loved Molly. I didn't want her to leave." He also mentioned he was unaware of her intentions to depart until after the fact.
Qerim, who officially began as the full-time host on September 15, 2015, hosted her final episode on September 15, 2025. She later joined Paramount+ to contribute to Zuffa Boxing, while Shae Cornette took over as the new host of 'First Take.'
