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The sports world was stunned on Sunday by news about a bombshell lawsuit filed by former Fox Sports hairdresser Noushin Faraji against FS1, Skip Bayless, Joy Taylor and Fox Sports Executive Vice President Charlie Dixon. She claims that she was sexually harassed, assaulted and subjected to racism and verbal abuse.
Faraji claims Bayless offered her $1.5 million to sleep with him, Dixon sexually harassed and assaulted her, and Taylor insulted her “on a personal and professional level” and when the hairdresser told Taylor about the harassment, Taylor told her “get over it.” Faraji also claimed that Taylor was sleeping with Fox Sports personality Emmanuel Acho and Dixon at the same time in an effort to boost her career.
In the 42-page lawsuit, Noushin Faraji claims she made multiple complaints to Fox Human Resources and Employee Relations departments, but no action was ever taken. Instead, she claims, Fox retaliated against her and others who complained and promoted those who protected the alleged perpetrators.
“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,” the lawsuit claims. “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 inexplicably 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.”
At one point in the lawsuit, Shannon Sharpe, who worked with Skip Bayless on the show Undisputed, is mentioned.
On April 16, 2022, Mr. Bayless called Ms. Faraji. Ms. Faraji did not answer the call because she was scared. She then called him back 10 minutes later. On the call, Mr. Bayless again angrily accused Ms. Faraji of “f——” Mr. Sharpe and said that he could tell from her body language that she was “f——” him. Ms. Faraji tried to explain that she was kind to all talent and that included laughing and engaging in conversation. Ms. Faraji then asked if he was yelling at her because she refused to go to his car. Mr. Bayless answered that she shouldn’t talk to him like that. Ms. Faraji replied that she could respond however she wanted. Mr. Bayless then angrily stated that he heard her talk to Mr. Sharpe about her “vagina.” Ms. Faraji knew this to be untrue and was embarrassed and angry. Ms.Faraji responded that even if she had been dating Mr. Sharpe, which she wasn’t, it shouldn’t matter at all because she only had a professional relationship with Mr. Bayless.
Sunday night, Shannon Sharpe addressed his being mentioned in the lawsuit during his Nightcap show with Chad Johnson. During the show-ending Q&A segment, Sharpe was asked to address the “elephant in the room.”
“Ain’t got nothing to do with me,” Sharpe replied. “Guys, the news of the day, absolutely… it doesn’t. What y’all want me to say?”
“That ain’t got nothing to do with us,” Johnson chimed in, backing his co-host.
“Yeah, that ain’t got nothing to do with me. So there’s nothing to address,” Sharpe continued. “I don’t know why everybody keep – if you notice, everybody that’s posted it, they got me. In the 42 pages, it don’t mention nothing about Shannon Sharpe did anything. But y’all wanna get clicks, so y’all mention me.”
“Yep. Ain’t got nothing to do with us,” Johnson reiterated.