ESPN is facing a massive internal crisis after longtime First Take host Molly Qerim abruptly resigned and hinted at a legal battle that could “bury” the network and its biggest star, Stephen A. Smith. Qerim’s sudden departure on September 16th sparked panic across Bristol, forcing management to call emergency meetings and rush out a false narrative while preparing for a potentially devastating hostile work environment lawsuit.

The Abrupt Exit and Accusations of Betrayal

Qerim’s contract was suddenly terminated, and she left so quickly—walking out on a Monday and never returning—that “her show graphic stripped before the ink on her Instagram story even dried”.

The heart of the crisis lies in Qerim’s accusation that Stephen A. Smith deliberately undermined her:

Framed by Smith: Qerim alleges Smith “framed her behind closed doors” by privately criticizing her work to management while maintaining a facade of camaraderie on air.
The Power Play: Production staffers claim Smith wanted Qerim out to “clear the lane for his own expanded role”. Smith’s highly lucrative $100 million contract and expanded platforms (including Monday Night Football) were formally announced just 48 hours after Qerim’s statement went live.
Contradictory Statements: While Smith publicly insisted he didn’t “know all the details” about her exit, he repeatedly shared confidential contract milestones and internal ESPN decisions, leading critics to call out his selective memory and contradiction.

ESPN’s Panic and the Legal Threat

ESPN’s immediate response was to control the narrative, which only led to more suspicion. President of content Burke Magnus insisted there was “no controversy here, there’s no shoe that’s going to drop”, but staff were privately swapping stories of chaos.

The network’s attempts to recover included:

The Distraction: ESPN rushed out the contract announcement for Malika Andrews in a move that had “all the subtlety of a fire alarm pulled during a board meeting”, as insiders suggest the plan was drafted days in advance.
The Lawsuit Watch: Rumors quickly solidified that Qerim was offered a payout to sign an NDA and stay quiet. Instead, three sports law attorneys believe she is preparing to sue both Smith and the network for hostile work environment and wrongful termination.
Cryptic Warning: Qerim’s cryptic “stay tuned” ending to her Instagram post has been screenshotted across social media, acting as a “silent threat” that she has “receipts stashed away”.

As Stephen A. Smith continues to move up with more shows and more money, the network’s legal department has been put on “escalated status”, bracing for a “worst case scenario”. Qerim’s actions have turned her online presence into a slow fuse that could detonate the sports television empire built by the very star she worked alongside.