“This Is Genuinely Awful Announcing”: Molly Qerim Facing Backlash Over Her Racial Claim About NHL Players (VIDEO)

VIDEO: Molly Qerim Facing Backlash Over Her Racial Claim About NHL Players
Molly Qerim (Photo via ESPN)

ESPN star Molly Qerim has become known for eye-popping outfits that she wears on First Take, but fans are paying less attention to what she had on and more on what came out of her mouth this week.

On Wednesday, the “First Take” crew discussed the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off final between the U.S. and Canada when Qerim gave her opinion on the fighting aspect of the sport.

Qerim alleged there was “hypocrisy” in the sport of Hockey because fighting is allowed to a point where it is frowned upon and disciplined heavily in other sports.

“It’s just interesting to me that in certain sports, you’re allowed to fight. And other sports, it could never happen,” Molly Qerim said. “Optics! … Just a little hypocrisy.”

It is unclear exactly what Qerim meant, but it seems like she was trying to invoke race as the main issue as to why it is allowed in Hockey and not other sports where the race of players are much more different.

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Whatever the case might be, social media ripped her a new one:

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“The optics are different because the rules within Hockey are different v basketball and other sports. In Hockey, fighting is allowed if you follow the procedures e.g. taking off your gloves. The refs allow it and break it up at the right time. Molly just doesn’t know Hockey!” one fan said.

“Stand on business you fraud @MollyQerim and say what you really wanna say… passive aggressive 🤡,” another fan stated.

“I love @MollyQerim, but I couldn’t disagree more here. There are literal penalties for fighting in Hockey because it is part of the fabric of the game. It’s within the rule book. Fighting never has and never will be part of the NBA game. It’s an apples to oranges comp,” one fan added about Molly Qerim’s comments.

“Holy hell, Molly is something. Does she realize fighting has been apart of Hockey for decades?” a fourth fan asked.

“This is genuinely awful announcing”, another fan said.

One final fan added: “Leave it to ESPN to insert race & black victimization into almost every conversation… 🙄.”

Will Molly Qerim Speak Out About Her Hockey Comments?

Molly Qerim posing on First Take
Molly Qerim (Photo via mollyqerim/Instagram)

Molly Qerim, the dynamic host of ESPN’s “First Take” alongside Stephen A. Smith, is no stranger to controversy.

Fights occur quite often in men’s hockey, and although they are policed, Molly is not a fan of them being allowed and celebrated while other sports are condemned.

Fans blasted her for her words, but do not expect her to speak out further.

Qerim has caused controversy before with her opinions, and she has rarely come back out to apologize or expand on her previous comments.