Emmanuel Acho Questions Stephen A. Smith's Handling of Molly Qerim's Departure From First Take
Emmanuel Acho is not feeling Stepehen A.Smith’s commentary about Molly Qerim’s exit from ESPN’s “First Take.”
During an episode of his “Speakeasy” podcast, Acho shared his dismay with Smith’s actions.
“Don’t tell us the details, then tell us you’re not gonna tell us the details,” Acho said Tuesday night. “He said she abruptly resigned. That’s a detail! And then you’re gonna say, ‘but don’t ask me the details, cause I’m not gonna tell you all the details, that’s none of y’all business. Oh, and I don’t know the details.’”
Acho argued that Smith made it seem like “something wild happened,” leading to Qerim’s leaving the show. He also accused Smith of using Qerim’s resignation for clicks and views.
“From a human perspective, Molly was your sidekick for 10 years,” Acho explained. “We don’t need to know she abruptly resigned. Protect her at all costs. She didn’t want it to leak…We don’t need to know she abruptly resigned.”
“But now, Stephen A., you’re the one who told us she resigned. Don’t put her business out there and then say, you’re not gonna put her business out there…At what cost do you get the clicks? Don’t get clicks at the cost of Molly,” Acho continued. “You want to get clicks at the cost of LeBron James, I get it. Don’t get clicks at the cost of a person that helped you build your empire. That was tough on me.”
On “First Take,” Smith praised Qerim for her contributions to the show as his co-host for 10 years. But on his eponymous “Mad Dog Sports Radio” show for SiriusXM, he delved into speculations about contract negotiations between ESPN and Qerim.
“It was a contract negotiation that was going on,” Smith continued. “ESPN certainly did not want to lose her. But in the end, she made her decision to walk away from the show effective immediately.”
Taking to social media, Qerim officially announced she was leaving the show after 10 years.
“After much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to close this incredible chapter and step away from First Take,” Qerim wrote on her Instagram story. “Hosting this show has been one of the greatest honors of my career. Every morning, I had the privilege of sharing the desk with some of the most brilliant, passionate, and entertaining voices in sports — and with all of you, the best fans in the world.”