Stephen A. Smith Breaks Silence on Molly Qerim’s Abrupt Exit from First Take

Stephen A. Smith opened up this week about the sudden resignation of longtime co-host Molly Qerim, saying she chose to step away for personal reasons and that the decision came as a surprise to him. Smith praised his former colleague’s decade-long contribution while emphasizing the limits of his own authority within the program’s leadership.

Smith: Qerim 'decided that she wanted to leave'

In a Feb. 2026 interview on The White House with Michael Irvin, Smith described Qerim’s departure as her choice and said she was dealing with issues he would not elaborate on. "Molly decided that she wanted to leave, and she had some issues that I'm not going to discuss, " he said. He added that whatever those matters were, they were not related to him personally.

Smith framed the exit as abrupt and emotionally difficult for colleagues who had worked with Qerim for years. "It wasn't with me, but she had some issues that was foremost on her mind and she made the decision to abruptly resign, " he said, noting their 10 years together and calling Qerim someone he loved working with. He also acknowledged the personal void her exit created among the show's staff and on-air personalities.

Power dynamics and the realities of television leadership

Smith pushed back on the notion that his role as executive producer gave him the final say in personnel choices. "Just because I'm the executive producer doesn't mean I'm the boss. I have bosses I answer to, " he explained, underscoring that even high-profile on-air figures must operate inside a larger corporate decision-making structure.

The broader picture includes discussions about contracts and future plans for hosts, which played into Qerim’s choice to move on. The network had offered a new contract, but Qerim elected not to accept it and resigned last September. Smith said he wished the outcome had been different but accepted that some decisions are made beyond his control.

Aftermath: a new moderator and the show's next chapter

Smith welcomed the program’s new moderator, calling her "the real deal" and praising her command of sports knowledge. He said the replacement has made a smooth transition and is performing at a high level, even as he and others miss Qerim personally.

Qerim’s departure closes a long chapter: she had been associated with the program for a decade and had served as its moderator since 2015. Her move prompted speculation about internal dynamics and future hosting plans; Smith’s public statements aim to quell some of that speculation while remaining protective of Qerim’s privacy.

As the debate show continues with its new lineup, Smith’s comments underscore two realities of modern sports television: the emotional bonds formed on long-running programs, and the corporate structures that ultimately shape on-air lineups. For now, Smith has made his view clear — he wanted Qerim to stay, respects her decision to leave, and supports the team moving forward.