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Molly Qerim walked away from her hosting role on First Take after reportedly feeling undervalued by ESPN. The longtime host was making approximately $500,000 annually – a figure that apparently didn’t align with her expectations given the show’s success.
Former ESPN personality Marcellus Wiley revealed on his “Dat Dude” podcast that Qerim’s departure wasn’t just about money. She also wanted opportunities to expand her presence at the network.
“Molly wasn’t getting what she wanted,” Wiley explained. “They weren’t signing off on her doing her own show or any other show at the network… Molly finally woke up and said enough is enough.”
Though Qerim’s contract was set to expire at year’s end, she chose to leave the popular sports debate show in September instead of completing her term.
Salary Comparisons and Career Limitations
Wiley suggested that Qerim’s dissatisfaction grew after seeing the compensation packages awarded to other female personalities at the network – specifically Malika Andrews and Mina Kimes.
The salary disparity became harder to ignore given Qerim’s decade-long tenure on what’s considered ESPN’s flagship debate program.
She wasn’t allowed to branch out.
Despite her prominent position alongside Stephen A. Smith, Qerim reportedly felt constrained by the limitations ESPN placed on her career development. According to Wiley, she wanted to host additional programs or even develop her own show – opportunities that never materialized.
Marcellus Wiley says Molly Qerim saw how Malika Andrews and Mina Kimes got paid at ESPN, and she realized the network was lowballing her—even though she's been holding down the #1 show, First Take for years and On top of that, Stephen A. Smith wasn’t going to go for bat for her pic.twitter.com/RFBTykWiau
— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@chatnigga101) September 21, 2025
When announcing her departure, Qerim kept things professional, avoiding any public criticism of the network. “To my First Take family, After much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to close this incredible chapter and star away from First Take. Hosting this show has been one of the great honors of my career,” she wrote on social media.
The 41-year-old had been First Take’s permanent host since September 2015, guiding the program through various co-host changes and helping establish it as one of ESPN’s most-watched daily offerings.
