Molly Qerim's sudden exit from ESPN has sparked plenty of theories, and former colleague Marcellus Wiley just added more fuel to the fire.
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Qerim, who had hosted "First Take" for a decade, was expected to stick around until her contract expired at the end of 2025. Instead, she opted to walk away last week. That move immediately raised eyebrows, with speculation she has something lined up and wanted to be free of her ESPN deal before it ran its course.
On his "Hydration Situation" podcast, Wiley said he heard Qerim was unhappy with contract talks. According to him, she wanted either a raise or the freedom to pursue new ventures within the company, like hosting her own show. ESPN wasn't willing to do either.
"So, Molly wants more money to stay on that show," Wiley said, via PennLive.com. "'If I'ma stay, you're going to have to pay me for my suffering. Or, give me some more, give me what I want, and let me go do more.' They balked at both."
Wiley also suggested Qerim's relationship with Stephen A. Smith wasn't as strong as advertised. He noted that Qerim hasn't publicly acknowledged Smith since leaving, even though she issued a statement about her departure. In Wiley's view, had Smith gone to bat for her, ESPN would have found the money.
"When he signs off on you, you get what you want," Wiley said. "When he doesn't, you don't." He even pointed out that Mina Kimes, a rising star at the network, makes more than Qerim despite her being the co-host of ESPN's top show.
Smith pushed back with an emotional on-air farewell, insisting the relationship was solid. Still, one report claims Qerim already has a multimillion-dollar offer from a rival network. At 41, she is unlikely to be a free agent for long.
