ESPN’s First Take host Molly Qerim was seen mouthing ‘what the f***’ live on-air after Stephen A. Smith bizarrely claimed she had gone from ‘just a host’ to a ‘supermodel in people’s eyes.’
The moment came during Wednesday’s episode of the ESPN show, according to a video shared on X by Awful Announcing, with radio Hall of Famer Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo, who appears weekly on First Take, and NFL/college football analyst Marcus Spears in the studio, too, at the time.
‘Look at Molly,’ Smith said while trying to make a point on evolution, as he argued for the Rose Bowl to be moved away from its traditional location in Pasadena, California, to SoFi Stadium in the future. ‘Molly was sitting there – once upon a time, she was just a host. Oh, now she’s a supermodel in people’s eyes for crying out loud.
‘We see all these photos of her everywhere and all of this other stuff. The bottom line is this: we modify as time goes on.’
Qerim was completely baffled and stoic during Smith’s assessment.
Stephen A. Smith bizarrely claimed ESPN’s Molly Qerim was ‘just a host’ before becoming ‘a super model in people eyes’ in Wednesday’s episode of First Take
Smith (C), Qerim (R) and First Take analyst Shannon Sharpe posing for a snap together in Sept.
First Take host mouths ‘What the f***’ after comment on her beauty
Seemingly bemused by his co-worker’s commentary, Russo had his head down while Qerim mouthed the profanity in his direction.
For his part, Spears stayed quiet.
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The awkward moment on live TV came a day after ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky sniffed Qerim’s shoe on-air during Tuesday’s episode of First Take.
Qerim – a New York Giants fan – began her career at ESPN in 2006. She covered UFC before becoming the host for College Football Live in 2008.
Qerim was once married to ex-NBA star and fellow ESPN host Jalen Rose from 2018 to 2021
She has also covered multiple Super Bowls, the Heisman Trophy presentation, the NBA draft, the NBA All-Star Game and the MLB All-Star Game.
Qerim became the interim host of ESPN’s First Take in mid-July 2015 before being promoted to permanent host of the show later in September of that year.
She was married to former NBA player and fellow ESPN host Jalen Rose from 2018 to 2021.
In 2018, Qerim announced she had severe endometriosis.
