Stephen A. Smith, Molly Qerim, and Jalen Rose: Clearing Up the Rumors

Recently, social media was abuzz after a parody Twitter account posted a fake quote suggesting a relationship between Stephen A. Smith and his “First Take” co-host Molly Qerim. The tweet quickly went viral, fooling thousands of fans before many realized it was a joke.

The rumors originally started after Jalen Rose, who married Molly Qerim in 2018, filed for divorce in 2021. TMZ reported the separation, which led to speculation about Molly’s relationships at ESPN, especially with Smith. However, both Rose and Qerim have publicly denied any romantic involvement beyond their professional friendship.

Rose addressed the situation directly, stating on Instagram, “After being separated for almost a year, Molly and I have officially decided to go our separate ways. We both agree remaining friends and colleagues is the best course of action for our relationship moving forward. Please respect our privacy at this time.” He also clarified, “I work with [Smith], I got love for him, and that’s my brother. I got love for [Molly], we were friends before we were married, we just didn’t work as a couple. I just saw her today. We cool! But for me to see the speculation and for people to assume that was why, it bothered me.”

Both Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim continue to work together on ESPN’s “First Take,” while Jalen Rose was let go by the company last month. Despite ongoing rumors and viral posts, there is no evidence of any romantic relationship between Smith and Qerim—just a professional partnership and mutual respect.