Oh, the drama at ESPN just hit DEFCON 1, and Stephen A. Smith is smack in the middle of this pathetic mess, playing the clueless king while his co-host of a decade, Molly Qerim, bolts for Fox Sports like she’s fleeing a sinking ship. After 10 years of propping up First Take with her poise and smarts, Qerim’s abrupt exit on September 15, 2025, wasn’t some “graceful” send-off—it’s a screaming indictment of ESPN’s toxic boys’ club, where Smith’s $20 million ego towers over everyone, especially women getting peanuts for doing the heavy lifting. Smith finally “revealed” the dirt on his Sirius XM show, but let’s be real: His whiny “details are none of y’all business” dodge reeks of a guy who knows he screwed her over and can’t face the mirror. Pay theft, creepy on-air ogling, and zero allyship—welcome to the ugly truth behind the sports scream-fest!
The Sudden Bailout: From Morning Banter to Morning Aftermath Nightmare
Picture this: September 15, 2025, Qerim’s hosting First Take like it’s any other Monday, keeping Smith’s hot-air rants in check with her signature class. Then—bam!—the Sports Business Journal drops a bomb: She’s out at year’s end, rejecting a contract extension, effective immediately. No warning, no fanfare, just a leaked story that ESPN claims “forced their hand.” Stephen A. takes the stage the next day, choking up like a bad actor: “Molly’s been an enormous part of our success… I’ll miss her.” Heartfelt? Please. Hours later on radio, he’s fumbling: “Abruptly resigned… I’m quite sad… Details? None of y’all business. I don’t even know all of ’em.”
Translation: ESPN’s top dog was left in the dark, proving this wasn’t “business”—it was a rushed cover-up to hide the rot. Qerim’s Instagram? A classy kiss-off: “Time to close this incredible chapter.” Noticeably absent: Any shoutout to Smith, her “partner” of 10 years. Ouch. Former ESPN gadfly Marcellus Wiley nailed it on his pod: That snub? Deliberate as hell. ESPN prez Burke Magnus spun it as a “transition plan,” but if they valued her so much, why let a leak torpedo everything? Smells like panic mode to bury the real scandal: A powerhouse host ditching the network that undervalued her for a rival willing to pay what she deserves.
The Pay Heist: Smith’s $20M Fortune vs. Molly’s Chump Change – ESPN’s Gender Grift Laid Bare
Let’s talk numbers, because they don’t lie—unlike Smith’s evasive BS. Smith inked a cushy 5-year, $100 million deal in March 2025, pocketing $20 million a year to yell about sports. Qerim? A measly $500K–$600K annually for wrangling his ego and turning First Take into ESPN’s cash cow. That’s 33–40 times less for the woman who moderated the chaos, kept debates civil, and boosted ratings sky-high. Pathetic!
Compare that to the boys’ club: Kirk Herbstreit rakes $18M, Mike Greenberg $6.5M for Get Up, even Pardon the Interruption dudes split $6M each. Every one of ’em out-earns Qerim by 10x or more. And get this: Hours after her exit bombshell, ESPN hands Malika Andrews (younger, less tenure) a multi-million extension—way juicier than Qerim’s lowball. Wiley spilled: Qerim watched these deals fly by, asked for a fair raise after a decade of loyalty, and got slapped with an insulting offer. Fox? They’re dangling $2 million a year—quadruple ESPN’s stingy bid. No wonder she jumped; ESPN treated her like the help, not the star she is.
This isn’t just Qerim’s gripe—it’s the ugly face of sports media’s gender pay gap. She built First Take into the top dog, yet ESPN prioritized Smith’s bluster over her brains. And Smith? With his fat contract and network pull, he could’ve fought for her. Did he? Crickets. Instead, he sat pretty while she got shafted. Some “partner.”
Creepy Banter or Hostile Workplace? Smith’s On-Air Ogling That Made Molly Squirm
Behind the “playful” vibes? A decade of Smith’s sleazy side-eye that turned First Take into an HR nightmare. Remember his Yukon jacket rant? “The nerve to show up dressed like that… She hasn’t lived up to the standard!” Or the “show a little shoulder” jab to spike ratings? Framed as jokes, but it objectified Qerim daily, reducing her to eye candy for millions. Then the 2023 vibrating phone fiasco: Smith harps on “vibrating” with winky innuendo, leaving her visibly cringing. Viral gold for him, awkward hell for her.
It wasn’t just Smith—guests like LaVar Ball piled on in 2019, sneering “You can switch gears with me anytime” (read: gross flirt), then calling her “crazy” and “Witchie Poo” for calling it out. “Her mind’s in the gutter thinking every man wants her.” Charming. Qerim had to play referee solo, defending boundaries while Smith chuckled along. Did he back her up? Nah. These “banter” moments masked a toxic dynamic where she was the punchline, not the pro. No wonder tensions boiled—Smith’s power trips and ESPN’s silence created a pressure cooker she finally escaped.
Smith’s Spineless Silence: No Ally, Just Alibis in the Betrayal Breakdown
Here’s where Smith looks weakest: Reports say Qerim begged for his influence during talks, hoping her decade-long bro would vouch for equity. He didn’t. Wiley theorized it stung extra—after all those mornings side-by-side, he ghosted her cause. Smith’s radio ramble? “Uncomfortable… Contract negotiation… Her story to tell.” He admits knowing “an idea” but clams up. Respect or self-preservation? With his clout, he could’ve pushed ESPN to pony up $2M—still just 10% of his haul. Instead, he let her walk, then played sad sack on air.
Social media roasted him: “Stephen A. knew and said nothing?” “Betrayal after 10 years?” His “shock” at her exit? Either he was clueless (bad boss) or complicit (worse). ESPN’s scrambling with tryouts for replacements like Shae Peppler or Christine Williamson—rushing to fill the void like Qerim was disposable. But will they pay the newbie more? Doubt it; the pattern’s clear.
Fallout Frenzy: ESPN’s Empire Cracks, Fox Wins, and Smith’s Legacy Tarnished
Qerim’s bolt isn’t just personal—it’s a wake-up slap to sports media’s dinosaurs. Women like her grind for scraps while egos like Smith’s feast. ESPN’s budget woes? Excuses. They could’ve afforded fairness without blinking. Now, Fox gets the gem they undervalued, and First Take limps on without its steady hand. Smith’s “love and appreciation” rings hollow—no public push for her raise, no mea culpa on the dynamics. He’s the face of the problem: A $20M loudmouth who talks big but bails on real support.
Viewers see through it—Qerim’s the hero who stood tall, cursing Smith out on air (“I’ll bust your ass!”) when needed. ESPN? A relic stuck in the past. As Qerim thrives at Fox, Smith’s left defending a sinking show. Betrayal? You bet. This saga screams for change—or more women walking. Who’s next? Sound off: Was Smith a snake or just spineless? The tea’s spilling—don’t miss it!
