A former Fox Sports hairstylist is suing the network, its parent company the Fox Corporation and former presenter Skip Bayless over claims that Bayless made unwanted sexual advancements towards her.
The full list of defendants includes FOX, FOX Sports, FS1, FS2, FOX Sports EVP Charlie Dixon, Skip Bayless, FS1 host Joy Taylor, and 25 other people referred to as DOES 1-25.
TV sports commentator Skip Bayless attends the 2016 IAVA Heroes Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 10, 2016 in New York City. Bayless has been accused of sexual harassment by his former hairstylist Noushin… TV sports commentator Skip Bayless attends the 2016 IAVA Heroes Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 10, 2016 in New York City. Bayless has been accused of sexual harassment by his former hairstylist Noushin Faraji. Nicholas Hunt/Getty images
Who Is Noushin Faraji?
Noushin Faraji is the former hairstylist claiming that Bayless, the host of Fox Sports’ Undisputed, sexually harassed her, including claiming in her suit that Bayless offered her $1.5 million to have sex with him, per Associated Press reporting.
Her suit, which was filed in Los Angeles’ California Superior Court, also claims that Fox Sports and the Fox Corporation ran a hostile work environment that permitted abuses of power by on-air personalities.
Faraji was fired from the company in 2024, for what she claims were “fabricated” reasons. Bayless’ show was also taken off the air in 2024 after losing viewers following the loss of his co-host Shannon Sharpe.
Her suit also lists “wrongful termination” as one of its individual complaints.
Her suit states: “Ms. Faraji brings forth this action because for over a decade at Fox, she was forced to endure a misogynistic, racist, and ableist workplace where executives and talent were allowed to physically and verbally abuse workers with impunity.
“When Ms. Faraji and others came forward to report the wrongdoing, instead of addressing their concerns, Fox retaliated against them while the perpetrators and those who protected them were inexplicitly promoted.
“This case thus represents yet another in a long line of cases chronicling the toxic culture at Fox, marked by bad faith promises and repeated failures to address a poisonous and entrenched patriarchy.”
Fox Sports told USA TODAY: “We take these allegations seriously and have no further comment at this time given this pending litigation.”
Fox Sports has been contacted by Newsweek for comment via its media enquiry form on its website.
Why Is Joy Taylor Listed in the Lawsuit?
Bayless is not the only individual listed in the suit. Joy Taylor, the current host for Fox Sports 1, is also listed as a defendant being sued by Faraji.
Taylor used to be the moderator on Bayless’ show, and Faraji has accused her in the suit of bullying over her ethnicity, stating: “In early June 2023, the treatment reached a breaking point, as Ms. Taylor began openly mocking Ms. Faraji’s English (e.g., exclaiming that she could not understand Ms. Faraji’s accent) and complaining about Ms. Faraji’s humming—an involuntary subconscious coping mechanism for her diagnosed PTSD.”
What Has Skip Bayless Been Accused Of?
In her suit, Faraji says Bayless’ harassment of her started in 2017, when Bayless would kiss her on the cheek, and make comments about how he could change her life if she slept with him.
She then claims that in 2021, Bayless threatened her job for refusing to have sex with him.
Faraji’s suit also claims that Bayless made inappropriate statements about her culture and religion, as when Faraji asked him to stop harassing her since he had a wife, Bayless allegedly said: “Aren’t you Muslim? Doesn’t your dad have three to four wives?”
Who Else Is Involved in the Allegations?
The other individual named in the complaint is Fox Sports executive Charlie Dixon, who Faraji claims also sexually harassed her, and groped her.
Faraji is also suing the company as a class action suit, claiming that Fox Sports did not pay its workers their full wages or overtime.
The suit states: “While not currently named as defendants herein, Mark Silverman, President and COO of Fox Sports, and Eric Shanks, CEO and Executive Producer of Fox Sports, may become named defendants based upon discovery yet to be adduced in this action concerning their involvement with respect to Ms. Faraji’s claims.”
Have Fox Sports Commented on the Lawsuit?
Fox Sports has stated that it has no further comment at this time other than it is taking the allegations seriously.
Those accused in the suit have not spoken publicly about their accusations.
Is Skip Bayless Married?
Ernestine Sclafani and Skip Bayless attend Lil Wayne’s 40th Birthday at The Nice Guy on September 25, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Skip and Ernestine married in 2016. Ernestine Sclafani and Skip Bayless attend Lil Wayne’s 40th Birthday at The Nice Guy on September 25, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Skip and Ernestine married in 2016. Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for The Goldwing Group
Bayless has been married to Ernestine Sclafani Bayless since 2016. According to Faraji’s suit, this was one year before he initiated his harassment against Faraji.
Sclafani Bayless’s most recent post to her 12,000 followers on Instagram is of her and her husband celebrating New Years, captioned: “Hope your 2025 is off to a terrific start and each new day is more fabulous than the last!
“So Skip and I had fun revealing our New Year’s resolutions (wonder if you guys might have the same ones on your list?) in addition to discussing and debating some very relatable topics….Take a look or listen but most of all ENJOY enjoy.”
Is Joy Taylor Married?
Taylor was married to former baseball player Richard Giannotti between 2016 and 2017. However, she has not been married since.
