On Sunday, news surfaced that Fox Sports, along with several prominent on-air personalities and an executive, were listed as defendants in an extensive workplace misconduct lawsuit filed in California. Among those accused of particularly troubling behavior is Fox Sports star Skip Bayless.
The lawsuit was filed by Noushin Faraji, a hairstylist who had worked for Fox Sports for over a decade.
According to the lawsuit, Skip Bayless engaged in years of inappropriate behavior toward Faraji, including “lingering hugs and kisses on the cheek while putting his body against hers and pressing against her breasts.”
Years after the initial incidents, Faraji reportedly approached Bayless to share details of health issues she was experiencing, hoping he would “take pity on her” and cease his actions. However, the lawsuit alleges that the opposite occurred.
Instead, Bayless is claimed to have declared his love for her and offered $1.5 million to engage in sexual relations.
“In July 2021, Ms. Faraji developed issues with her left ovary and was advised it could be cancer,” the lawsuit stated via Awful Announcing. “With a fourth biopsy scheduled, she explained her situation to Mr. Bayless, hoping that he would take pity on her and cease his advances. Instead, Mr. Bayless told her that he wanted to be with her. Ms. Faraji panicked and began rambling that there were cameras everywhere, that she has a child, and that she does not want him. Mr. Bayless then grabbed her hands, began kissing them, and offered her $1.5 million to have sex. Ms. Faraji made an excuse to leave.”
The allegations further state that Bayless persisted in his behavior after this encounter.
“Mr. Bayless then told Ms. Faraji that he fantasizes about having sex with her and asked how much money it would take for her to have sex with him. Ms. Faraji stated that she already refused $1.5 million and that her answer wasn’t going to change. Mr. Bayless replied, ‘The more you say no the more I want you,’” the lawsuit detailed.
The suit also accuses Bayless of making another inappropriate advance about a week later, accompanied by a racist comment.
“Approximately one week later, Mr. Bayless made another advance at Ms. Faraji. Ms. Faraji responded: ‘Skip, stop, you have a wife.’ Mr. Bayless responded: ‘Aren’t you Muslim? Doesn’t your dad have three to four wives?’ Ms. Faraji responded that her father was dead, and when Mr. Bayless looked taken aback, she made an excuse to leave.”
Following repeated rejections, Bayless allegedly accused Faraji of having an intimate relationship with his co-host Shannon Sharpe.
“Ms. Faraji’s job is threatened because she does not sleep with Mr. Bayless. Mr. Bayless answered the door, and before Ms. Faraji could speak, he began to angrily accuse Ms. Faraji of ‘[intimacy with]’ Mr. Sharpe. Ms. Faraji tried to explain that she did not have any feelings towards Mr. Sharpe and had never slept with him or any other talent member or employee at Fox. Mr. Bayless then angrily stated that he heard her talk to Mr. Sharpe about her ‘[private parts]’”
The lawsuit claims Bayless made yet another advance on Faraji, professing his love for her again.
“On December 21, 2023, Mr. Bayless told Ms. Faraji that he still loved her and confided that [Fox executive] Mr. Dixon was the one who had told him that Ms. Faraji was sleeping with Mr. Sharpe,” the lawsuit stated. “Mr. Bayless then again tried to have sex with Ms. Faraji. Ms. Faraji’s diary entry for that day states: ‘I said Skip I’m only interested in working with you and having friendship relationship with you and nothing else, he said you have no idea you are losing everything, I don’t know what he means by that and I hope he doesn’t take me off the show, it makes me sick to my stomach, and it’s really hard for me to work like this, I hope god help[s] me because Fox is supporting people like Charlie and Skip.’”
Needless to say, these disgusting allegations led to a lot of reactions on social media.
“The fact we’re only now learning about these allegations when Skip dominated sports media for decades makes you wonder how much else has been kept quiet,” one person wrote on X.
“The downfall of Skip Bayless,” another person commented.
“He’s going down for this one,” someone else added.
“Skip Bayless downfall, I’m here for it,” another person said.
“I’m so shocked,” one person wrote.
“Not surprised sadly,” someone else said.
If you or someone else is the victim of sexual assault, please know that help is available 24 hours a day. You can speak to someone today by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
