What happened to Molly Qerim on ‘First Take’?

In the past week, fans tuning into *First Take* have noticed that longtime host Molly Qerim has been mysteriously absent, raising concerns among viewers. Qerim, who has been the face of the ESPN sports debate show since July 2015, hasn’t appeared for several episodes in a row, leading many to wonder what’s going on.

Filling in for her is Shae Cornette, but fellow hosts like Stephen A. Smith and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo haven’t really addressed Qerim’s absence, leaving fans speculating about her well-being. The last time she was expected to appear was over a week ago, and as of Wednesday, she had missed six consecutive episodes. Fans are particularly unsettled because there has been no official explanation for her disappearance. Social media has been buzzing with concerns; one user, @mvdbutler, expressed what many are feeling: “I’m kind of worried about Molly Qerim. She was missing from *First Take* in the middle of last week and was supposed to appear on the special episode last Friday. Hope she’s okay.”

Others have joined in, asking if she’s on vacation, sick, or if something else is happening behind the scenes. On Wednesday’s show, Stephen A. Smith did mention that “Shae is in the house,” acknowledging Cornette’s role as host, but he didn’t provide any further details.

Adding to the mystery, Qerim hasn’t posted on her social media accounts in weeks. Her last updates on X and Instagram were about two weeks ago, promoting ESPN’s new betting platform, ESPN Bet. Since then, fans have heard nothing from her, fueling speculation about what might be happening. ESPN has not released any official statement regarding Qerim’s absence, and no one on *First Take* has shared updates either. Given her long-standing role on the show, it’s no surprise that her absence is causing concern, with fans hoping she’s okay and will return soon.

Last Friday’s episode featured a special appearance by former NFL star Cam Newton, which excited fans, but instead of Qerim, Christine Williamson stepped in to host that episode. This unexpected switch only added to the worries about Qerim’s status, as many were anticipating her return. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Qerim has been absent; she also missed several episodes back in August. During that time, Stephen A. Smith, Bart Scott, and Shannon Sharpe kept the show going, but fans were vocal about missing her presence. While she did return in September, her current absence just a month later has understandably left viewers frustrated and worried about her well-being.