MOLLY Qerim reportedly walked away from ESPN after being “low-balled” in contract negotiations.
The 41-year-old quit flagship daytime show First Take last month after a decade as host.
Molly Qerim left First Take after more than a decade last month[/caption]
Qerim’s former colleague Marcellus Wiley has opened up on her apparent salary[/caption]
Qerim starred on the show alongside lead analyst Stephen A. Smith, who recently penned a mammoth $20million-a-year contract with ESPN.
Molly’s contract with the network was due to run out in January after a 19-year stint.
And according to her former colleague Marcellus Wiley, she decided to walk away after realizing a hefty pay rise wasn’t on the table.
Wiley explained more on his hit podcast More To It, claiming that “Molly wasn’t getting what she wanted.”
He also claimed she reportedly made “around half a million dollars a year.”
“Contrast that to $20million-a-year for Stephen A. Smith, where he’s No. 1 on the show you’re No. 2, then you can feel a certain type of way,” Wiley added.
Wiley, who worked alongside Qerim on SportsNation, also claimed ESPN were not interested in Molly getting her own show.
“That wasn’t happening,” he continued.
“They weren’t signing off on her doing her own show or any other show at the network.”
“Molly finally woke up and said enough is enough,” he added.
Qerim was recently spotted for the first time since jumping ship from First Take.
“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 on September 15.
“Hosting this show has been one of the greatest honours 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.
“I’m so grateful for what this journey has given me: lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories, and the chance to be part of something truly special.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for welcoming me into your homes.
“Stay tuned. With love and gratitude, Molly.”
Molly Qerim’s life in the spotlight
Molly Qerim has risen through the ranks to become one of the biggest stars at ESPN.
The popular sports host began her media career in 2006 with ESPN and spent four years with the network.
She then covered college basketball and football for CBS Sports Network in New York.
Qerim balanced that with hosting duties for NFL Network in Los Angeles – fronting NFLAM and NFL Fantasy Live.
The host returned to ESPN in 2015 and immediately took the role of First Take anchor.
And Qerim has been an ever-present, popular host of the daily sports debate show ever since.
The 41-year-old reportedly earned around $500,000[/caption]
ESPN’s president of content Burke Magnus has since opened up on Molly’s sudden departure.
He claimed Qerim leaving the show was not a shock to anyone behind the scenes.
ESPN reportedly “wanted her to stay at the company,” with Magnues admitting the two sides “just weren’t totally aligned.”
“She was going to come off First Take either way and that was something [where] we had already crossed that bridge,” Magnus told The Athletic.
Molly’s colleague Stephen A. Smith (right) recently penned a huge $20m-a-year deal with ESPN[/caption]
“So it was from our perspective much more about what else could she be doing, how could we make her more versatile, get her involved in different things?
“That’s what we were trying to do.
“Molly Qerim is a wonderful person and an unbelievable teammate and colleague.
“There was a couple dimensions to this. One, is obviously we were in a renewal conversation.
“Two, is 10 years to do something like that is a long time.
“I’m not going to speak for her, but I think there was a feeling that she wants to do other things, and successfully being on a top show like that for a decade qualifies as maybe I can turn the page and do something else.”
