What’s bad with having aspirations? Probably Molly Qerim, too, had one. As details emerge, the story of ESPN and Molly gets interesting with each unfolding. One of the most notable and arguably the most important factors in the Emmy-winning reporter’s exit was her salary negotiations. According to journalist Marcellus Wiley, Molly Qerim left ESPN because she felt disrespected by the offer that the network put on the table during the recent contract extension talks. So that’s one of the reasons.

“Molly Qerim felt that her $500,000 ESPN salary was an insult, given her contributions to ‘First Take,’ & she left the network because ESPN wouldn’t give her the salary she desired. She felt she was getting lowballed compared to other female hosts in the industry like Malika Andrews & Mina Kimes, even though she was the host of the No. 1 ‘First Take’ show,” Wiley reported. Well, it’s true because just hours after Qerim left ESPN, the network offered Malika Andrews a multi-year extension.

Although the exact amount of Andrews’ extension hasn’t been revealed, it’s safe to say it was well over $500,000. While ESPN’s management should be at fault for lowballing Qerim, there’s another reason emerging. She was allegedly not happy with her co-host and First Take’s executive producer, Stephen A. Smith. “Qerim also was not happy that Stephen A. Smith was not going at-bat for her to ESPN & there was friction between the two,” Wiley further revealed.

Molly and Stephen A. Smith are known as great friends. They have been close friends for close to a decade now, with rumors at several points hinting that they are/were together. While the rumors do not hold much truth, the reporters’ analysis of Molly being upset due to a lack of support from Smith can actually lead to more stories in the coming days. It makes even more sense because Molly has been with the network since 2008 and worked across multiple levels, and is a key figure on the show First Take alongside Smith.

But how did it all unfold? Just a few weeks ago, Molly Qerim sent the basketball world into a frenzy after her abrupt departure from ESPN. The 41-year-old, who co-hosted First Take alongside Stephen A. Smith for over a decade, posted an Instagram story revealing that she will be leaving the broadcasting network.

While many thought that this might be related to her contract, which was about to expire at the end of the year, what stunned everyone the most was that she was gone the very next day. And now, with all the details emerging, fans came out in support of Molly Qerim and took jabs at Stephen A. Smith.

Fans blame Stephen A. Smith for Molly Qerim’s departure from ESPN

Initially, the fans did not know what led to Molly Qerim’s sudden exit from ESPN, but thanks to Marcellus Wiley’s report on the situation, everyone now has a reason to blast. “Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith gets paid 20 mil a year to scream and be annoying af!,” a follower commented. Although the majority of the blame for underpaying Qerim, that too $500k, lies with the network, the fans calling out Stephen A. Smith does reflect the importance Smith holds with a $100+ million contract in hand for five years.

They took out their frustration on the situation, pointing out the stark difference between the pay of the two co-hosts, despite Smith not bringing much to the table. Well, while the talent part is debatable, the huge difference in both Smith and Qerim’s pay is not. Speaking of which, another user went ahead and pinpointed the same issue: “SAS taking up the whole payroll 😂😂.”

While Qerim struggled to get a decent deal, her co-host inked a massive deal with the network, which pushes his overall earnings to $40 million a year with multiple other projects he handles. Meanwhile, another fan suggested, “I mean if Stephen A. Smith is getting 40 Million, I can understand her thinking she’s worth at least 1/40th of what he’s getting.”

Although these numbers were a bit off because the $40 million figure isn’t from ESPN alone. Besides logic, the user did put forth a valid argument stating that if Smith is worth seven figures, Molly Qerim also deserves at least a fair salary, given that they were co-hosts. Nonetheless, this wasn’t all, as another fan shared the sentiment.

“She deserves the bag, and her contributions were enormous,” the user wrote. After all, since joining the network, Qerim has worked her way up, contributing big time. In fact, in the last few years, she has become a huge reason why First Take was so popular. Not to mention that she embraced the role of being a mediator on the show pretty well. However, it seems like ESPN did not value her enough, as she is now gearing up to embark on a new journey.

It is not just about Smith making $100+ million in 5 years, as one fan wrote, “Yeah, 500k is low and of course Stephen A, left her out to dry.” The issue is debatable. Should Smith have asked ESPN to pay her more? Or he should have taken a pay cut to help his dear friend? Yes, there are no answers because emotions do not consider these. So, it’s less about Smith and more about ESPN not finding much value in increasing her contract. That again is debatable. Do let us know your thoughts!