Stephen A. Smith SLAMS Molly Qerim and Exposes Her Relationship with Him

Last night, she abruptly resigned as host of the show — and describing my reaction as “sad” doesn’t even begin to cover it. Molly Karum’s shocking move to NBC blindsided ESPN, but it wasn’t just a career jump. Behind the scenes were long-fought health battles, strains in her personal life, and a resignation letter full of years of bottled-up frustration.

To many, Molly was the face of ESPN Mornings — the calm counterbalance to Stephen A. Smith’s fiery takes. Yet tonight, she’s signed with NBC, and the fallout is pandemonium. This isn’t just a network change. It’s an earthquake in sports media, and ESPN executives are scrambling to contain the damage. From what insiders say, NBC’s offer wasn’t just bigger — it included full editorial freedom, a coveted prime time platform, and compensation that far outstripped what ESPN ever offered.

On a typical September morning in 2025, viewers tuned into First Take expecting the familiar anchor. Instead, they were greeted by silence — her chair was conspicuously empty. Molly had announced the night before that she was departing, effective immediately. It hit the industry like a thunderbolt: after nearly ten years, she was gone without a farewell tour or proper send-off.

Rumors exploded online: Molly had signed with NBC, ESPN was blindsided, and Disney execs were in crisis mode. But the real story is more complex — and far more revealing. Reputable outlets like The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, and Awful Announcing have found zero credible evidence of an NBC deal. Yet countless YouTube videos and sensational social posts propagated it as fact.

The truth is far more grounded. ESPN President Burke Magnus later said that once the leak broke — revealing Molly’s departure before anyone intended it — it became untenable to let the situation drag. Both sides agreed: better to part ways immediately than prolong the uncertainty. He insisted there was no scandal, simply a business reality: they couldn’t reach contract terms acceptable to both parties.

However, in corporate media, when executives overcorrect by denying controversy, that often signals deeper tensions. Molly Karum’s career at ESPN began around 2006, working in digital media before transitioning to on-camera roles. She left for a few years to broaden her experience, then returned to become interim host of First Take in 2015 — and soon after became its permanent host, the first woman to hold that position. During her tenure, First Take moved to ESPN’s main channel and saw significant ratings growth.

So why couldn’t it work out? Multiple factors likely converged:

Creative freedom: It’s been suggested Molly wanted more autonomy, including the chance to host her own show — a request ESPN allegedly denied.

Compensation: Reports indicate she felt undervalued compared to peers. While Stephen A.’s highly publicized contract is much larger, Molly argued she deserved a more substantial raise given her decade of stewardship at the center of ESPN’s flagship debate program.

Network strategy: ESPN had already planned to phase her out by the year’s end regardless. They intended to host audition shows for a new anchor over 30–45 days, with no commitment to internal candidates. The knowability of the host role, they believed, gave them confidence to replace her.

Outside offers: While NBC talk is unsubstantiated, there are credible reports that Fox Sports had approached her with a solid offer — perhaps around $2 million annually — to join FS1 programming. She reportedly lacked leverage at ESPN since their decision to move on was firm.

Beyond business negotiations, Molly’s exit is also steeped in personal trials. She has battled stage 4 endometriosis, a condition she diagnosed in her mid‑twenties. Over more than a decade, multiple surgeries and intense pain became part of her reality, yet she often stayed silent out of fear it would be perceived as weakness in a male-dominated industry. Her decision to go public with her medical journey — especially after a complex surgery earlier in 2025 — helped raise awareness for many women suffering behind closed doors.

Her personal life has also been in the public eye. In 2018, she married Jaylen Rose, a fellow ESPN analyst. The marriage ended a few years later, reportedly amicably. There’s been speculation — including from online forums — about romantic involvement with Stephen A. Smith, but both have denied anything beyond friendship and professional chemistry.

Through her career, Molly has weathered public controversies, too. In 2019, during a First Take segment with Lavar Ball, she attempted to change topics when Ball responded to her with a suggestive line, “You can switch gears with me anytime.” She later described needing to call it out. ESPN banned Ball from future appearances, igniting debate over workplace respect and power dynamics. She also faced criticism for comments around the 2023 incident involving UFC President Dana White, defending him by saying “we don’t know the full story” — a stance that many felt exposed double standards given past statements about athletes. And over time, rumors, on-camera flubs, and accusations of bias or conflict surfaced — all of which shaped public perception just as strongly as her broadcasting achievements.

Now, Molly Karum is stepping into the next chapter without a confirmed destination, but with her reputation, integrity, and influence intact. Fox rumors still simmer; NBC claims remain unverified. For a woman who built her career moderating hot takes, now she emerges as her own headline. And while ESPN moves on to a new era for First Take, Molly’s story — full of resilience, sacrifice, and ambition — just might be entering its most compelling phase yet.