Molly Kerim Enjoys Abu Dhabi Getaway After Leaving ESPN

Molly Kerim is currently on vacation in Abu Dhabi, having parted ways with ESPN last month. She shared a glimpse of her trip through an Instagram Story featuring a photo of herself strolling along the beach by the ocean.

In the snapshot, Kerim, dressed in a crocheted dress, tagged Visit Abu Dhabi as well as Melt Live, an exclusive event organized by Steve Harvey Global and OWS Capital.

The former host of First Take, who co-hosted the show alongside Stephen A. Smith for around ten years, seems to be participating in the MELT padel tournament at Fahid Beach Club on Thursday.

Kerim, who had been with ESPN since 2005, announced her departure via her Instagram Story, stating that the news came out “sooner than I intended.” It was revealed that she declined ESPN’s offer for a new contract and plans to leave at the end of 2025.

Following her exit, ESPN named Shay Cornett, previously of SportsCenter, as Kerim’s successor after several rounds of auditions with various in-house hosts.

Cornett mentioned in an interview that he hadn’t had much interaction with Kerim, although he remembered her as very kind and welcoming during their limited encounters. He expressed a desire to reach out to her.

Praising her tenure, Cornett remarked on how smoothly Kerim handled the complexities of hosting a show with diverse topics and personalities for a decade. He noted, “That takes a person with a lot of stamina and knowledge, and also a lot of grace.”

Burke Magnus, ESPN’s president of content, explained that there had been discussions about renewing Kerim’s contract before she made her decision. They ultimately had a fundamental disagreement about her future at the network. Though they’d hoped she would stay, Kerim expressed a desire to explore new opportunities.