Molly Qerim Says ESPN ‘Had My Back’ After LaVar Ball Comments

EXCLUSIVE

Molly Qerim is breaking her silence after the LaVar Ball incident on “First Take” — telling TMZ Sports she’s grateful for the way ESPN execs “had my back” after the way LaVar talked to her on-air. 

“ESPN was really supportive,” Qerim told us Tuesday morning in NYC … “All the executives had my back. Much appreciated.”

The network quickly condemned Ball’s comments to Qerim on Monday as “inappropriate” — when he told her, “You can switch gears with me anytime.”

We asked Molly if LaVar (or anyone in the Ball family) had reached out to apologize — and she told us, “I haven’t heard from anybody, but to be honest with you I shut my phone off after work.”

As for her how famous NBA star husband, Jalen Rose, handled the situation — Molly says, “I think Jalen would have just liked if [LaVar] would have apologized to me publicly.”

Does Molly think ESPN should ban LaVar from coming back on “First Take” or any other ESPN show? We asked that too … check out the clip. 

For his part, LaVar is adamant the comments were NOT intended to be sexual in nature — and he insists he meant no disrespect. 

LaVar shooting his shot at Molly Qerim during First Take interview? Jalen Rose gonna bust him up lol pic.twitter.com/HeIB9CFIxH

— gifdsports (@gifdsports) June 17, 2019