ESPN’s Molly Qerim is set to return to First Take on Monday following a mysterious seven-day absence, DailyMail.com has learned.
Qerim has been missing from the midday sports debate program, where she serves as the moderator for Stephen A. Smith & Co.
No reason has been provided for Qerim’s absence by ESPN or any of the other hosts.
Filling in for Qerim, who routinely plays the moderator role on the show, has been Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo, Shae Cornette and Christine Williamson.
With interim moderators, some have credited Qerim with how she navigated the show’s big personalities and stopped segments from becoming pure shouting matches on television. Others have made their concerns over her absence and lack of recognition from others public.
ESPN’s Qerim is set to return to First Take on Monday after a mysterious seven-day absence
Qerim was replaced by Shae Cornette (second from left) during Thursday’s episode
There has been a great deal of concern among the show’s fans over Qerim’s absence.
‘I’m kinda worried about Molly Qerim,’ one fan wrote. ‘She was missing from First Take in the middle of last week and was supposed to appear on the special episode last Friday. Hope she’s okay.’
Qerim has not posted to Instagram or X in the last two weeks, keeping a low profile when not on air with Stephen A. Smith and others.
She has been the host of First Take since 2015, when she returned for her second stint with ESPN.
ESPN’s First Take airs for two hours each weekday and is the lead-in for Pat McAfee’s show.
There have been unfounded rumors that Qerim and Smith have been romantically involved, although both have denied these claims.
The subject was raised on the show in April when Russo noticed live on air that both Smith and Qerim were wearing white suits.
‘Who said ”I do” first between the two of you,’ Russo quipped while pointing at his colleagues.
Qerim quickly responded, sarcastically saying: ‘Who said ”I don’t?”
Smith and Qerim exchanged compliments before the former began addressing the speculations.
‘No! There’s nothing going on. You understand what I’m saying?’ Smith said. ‘America’s been lying about that for a couple years.’
Qerim was married to former NBA player and ESPN personality Jalen Rose for three years
Qerim was married to retired NBA player and former ESPN personality Jalen Rose for three years before parting ways. Their divorce was made public in December 2021 when Rose announced their split on his Instagram story.
In 2022, Rose addressed the rumors surrounding Qerim and Smith in an interview with GQ.
‘In my personal relationship, it was laughable to me, to see [Molly Qerim] and I mutually part ways, be in accord about why we’re parting ways, and still see people speculating on why,’ Rose said. ‘Not only speculating — in particular saying it was because her and Stephen A. Smith had a relationship.
‘And, like, unequivocally, I’m not here to speak for what he does in his personal life or what she does in her personal life, I got love for both of them. We still 100. I would just say that for people who thought we parted ways because they have a relationship? Then I got some swampland in Detroit to sell you for top dollar. That is not why we split.’
Rose also explained that the rumors were not addressed because he, Qerim, and Smith had discussed them away from the public eye.