Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith (Photos via @MollyQerim/X & Getty Images)

Molly Qerim was forced to defend herself from Stephen A. Smith on television this week, clapping back at her ‘First Take’ co-host after he criticized her choice of outfit.

Qerim was on the set in New York along with Mike Tannenbaum and Kimberley Martin, with Stephen A. joining remotely. She greeted him after introducing the aforementioned pair, which he responded to as usual before reminding Martin of the responsibility of sitting in his chair.

He then switched his focus to his longtime coworker, pointing out that the outfit she was wearing was similar to the one she wore the day before.

“To the matriarch herself,” he said. “Molly, you know what you’re doing. All I want to say is, that the color that you’re rocking today… is similar to the color you was rocking yesterday.”

You can check out the full exchange here.

Qerim, who was wearing a light blue fit, did have on a similar color the previous day, but she fired back at Smith, making a very valid point.

First Take (Photo via The U.S. Sun)

“Stephen A.,” she responded. “I just have to say one thing to this man. We do this television show year-round. How many shows a year, 180 shows a year?”

“No, it’s a minimum of 220,” he corrected her.

“Okay, 220,” she continued. “220 shows a year, right? That’s within our contract. There’s only so many colors! There’s only so many things a person can wear!”

Stephen A. Smith Wasn’t Done With Molly Qerim

Smith tried to defend his take.

“It’s not the color, it’s the fact that it’s similar to yesterday,” he argued. “Spread it out, that’s all I’m saying. It’s just a little suggestion, we have standards here on First Take!”

“Oh my God, really?” Molly asked. “Really, already? It’s 10:02 and you’re already annoying me with the backhanded compliment.”

Of course, Molly Qerim has gotten used to the playful criticism from Stephen. A Smith, but she has had to check him on a few occasions.