Molly Qerim, longtime host of ESPN’s First Take, has been at the center of many viral live TV moments—sometimes for reasons she didn’t expect. One such moment came on January 3, 2024, when Stephen A. Smith gave her an awkward compliment, calling her a “supermodel” during a live segment. Though the camera was focused on him, viewers quickly caught Molly in the background mouthing “WTF” with a stunned expression. That reaction went viral, highlighting how unpredictable live television can be. But that wasn’t the only time she seemed to forget the cameras were rolling. In June 2019, during a lighthearted segment, she got up from the desk and did a spontaneous dance, including a shimmy with a twerk-like motion, earning mixed reactions from fans—some praising her for being fun, others calling it unprofessional.

In another memorable moment from August 15, 2024, a foot-fetish joke during a sports-meets-pop-culture segment made things awkward when Molly joked about athletes having a thing for feet. The studio’s reaction was tense, with Stephen A. visibly caught off guard, and Molly’s own face shifting from playful to mildly regretful as she realized the joke might’ve crossed a line. Then on April 8, 2024, she had to jump into action mid-show when Stephen A. left his laptop open on camera, potentially exposing private information. She subtly tried to warn him to close it while he stayed locked into a heated rant, seemingly oblivious. Her frustrated expression and quick thinking sparked another viral moment.

Despite typically acting as the show’s neutral moderator, Molly has had to assert herself. On March 20, 2024, she pushed back at Stephen A.’s exaggerated claim during a March Madness debate, directly calling out his hyperbole and breaking her usual calm. Another similar situation came on February 12, 2024, when he abruptly cut her off mid-sentence. Her visible reaction—wide eyes, folded arms, and a silent “are you serious?”—sparked online discussion about how she’s sometimes sidelined on her own show.

One of the most uncomfortable moments occurred on September 10, 2024, during a heated debate about Caitlin Clark’s media coverage. Both Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe appeared to criticize Molly directly for not fully supporting their stance during a recent controversy. Their remarks, aimed at her live on air, created a two-against-one dynamic that left her visibly uncomfortable but composed. Finally, on June 25, 2024, even something as small as Molly eating during a long taping became a point of contention, as co-hosts teased her about snacking—comments that quickly took on an uncomfortable tone, especially given the scrutiny female hosts face compared to their male counterparts.

Through all of these moments—awkward compliments, jokes gone wrong, interrupted monologues, and even snack shaming—Molly Qerim has shown professionalism under pressure, but also just how difficult it can be to navigate live television as a woman in sports media.