Lawsuit against Skip Bayless, Fox Sports executive accused of harassment
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A former Fox Sports hair stylist has filed a lawsuit alleging that a network executive groped her forcefully and used his position “to sexually harass women.” The lawsuit also claims that former personality Skip Bayless offered to pay the hair stylist for sex.
The lawsuit was filed by Nausheen Faraji, who says she worked at Fox Sports from 2012 to August 2024, on Friday in Los Angeles County court. The lawsuit names Fox Sports and its other properties as defendants, as well as FS1’s executive vice president of content Charlie Dixon, Bayless and network host Joey Taylor.
News of the lawsuit was first reported by Front Office Sports.
The lawsuit reads, “Faraji brought this action because for more than a decade at Fox, he was forced to endure a misogynistic, racist, and ableist workplace in which executives and talent threatened workers with physical And verbal abuse was allowed.”
In a statement to USA TODAY Sports, Fox Sports said, “We take these allegations seriously and will have no further comment at this time in view of the pending litigation.”
Fox Sports executive Charlie Dixon accused
Faraji alleged that Dixon rubbed her body and grabbed her buttocks while attending a party for Taylor in West Hollywood in January 2017. Faraji said she was hurt by the situation and tried to tell Taylor, whom she described as her friend, but Taylor told her “to get over it,” according to details of the lawsuit.
It is also alleged that an unnamed employee told Farazi that she would not work with Fox Sports because she refused to have sexual relations with Dixon in order to renew her contract. According to the lawsuit, the anonymous person also said that Dixon was “doing this with other female talent.”
The lawsuit accuses Fox of not properly investigating Dixon’s actions regarding sexual relations and says he used his position to coerce women into having sex with him.
“As Fox knew or should have known of Mr. Dixon’s willingness and propensity to use his position to sexually harass women, Fox is liable for those special damages,” the lawsuit reads.
allegations against skip bayless
Faraji did hairstyling for several shows during his time at Fox Sports, including “Undisputed”. While working for the show, she did hair for then-personality Bayless.
The lawsuit alleges that soon after the weekly haircuts began, Bayless “began finding excuses to touch” Faraji. Throughout the years that Farazi worked with Bayless, he reportedly continued to make advances towards her. In July 2021, Farazi reportedly informed Bayless about a possible cancer diagnosis, hoping to stop sexual advances, but he continued pursuing them.
“Bayless told her he wanted to be with her. Ms. Faraji became nervous and began muttering that there were cameras everywhere, that she had a child and that she did not want him,” the suit reads. “Bayless then grabbed her hands, began kissing them and offered her $1.5 million to have sex. Ms Farazi made an excuse to leave.”
Bayless reportedly made another advance the following week, and when Farage informed him that he had a wife, Bayless made a comment about her religion. According to the complaint, she also accused Faraji of having an affair with Shannon Sharp, his “Undisputed” co-star.
Bayless’ progress continued through 2024. He allegedly told Faraji that he fantasized about her and “asked how much money it would cost her to have sex with him.”
Bayless was with Fox Sports until August, when he left “Undisputed” and the network after eight years. It was at this time that Faraji said he was fired. The lawsuit says Bayless told Frazee that Dixon wanted to fire her “because she knew too much and was talking.”
“Ms. Faraji has suffered, and is suffering, loss of earnings, loss of other employment benefits, loss of other financial aspects. In addition, she has suffered and is suffering emotional distress, embarrassment, shame, and fear. Lawsuit For his damages, in an amount to be proved at the time of, the suit reads.
“When Ms. Faraji and others came forward to report wrongdoing, instead of addressing their concerns, Fox retaliated against them, while needlessly emboldening the perpetrators and those who protected them.”
Bayless currently hosts his own podcast, “The Skip Bayless Show”, on YouTube.
allegations against joey taylor
In addition to Taylor’s name appearing in Faraji’s complaints against Dixon, the lawsuit also makes specific claims against Taylor.
The lawsuit alleges that Taylor began “abusing Ms. Faraji on a personal and professional level” after their friendship ended. Faraji, who is of Persian descent, also claims that Taylor made fun of the “English” pronunciation of her name.
Taylor, previously the host of “Undisputed”, currently co-hosts the FS1 show “Speak” with Keyshawn Johnson and Paul Pierce.