The Skip Bayless Show/YouTube
Former Fox Sports host Skip Bayless was named in a sexual misconduct lawsuit filed by a former network hairdresser this past week in California, according to a report from Front Office Sports.
The woman alleges in the suit — which was filed Friday in Los Angeles — that Bayless was among numerous people at the network who either harassed her or committed “sexual battery.”
In the case of Bayless, a woman named Noushin Faraji claims he propositioned her for sex, touched her inappropriately and implied he could elevate her life if she gave in. Front Office Sports reported on her allegations against him:
After starting work on the Undisputed morning show starring Bayless, the suit alleges that he began giving Faraji “lingering hugs and kisses on the cheek while putting his body against hers and pressing against her breasts.” The single mother alleges she repeatedly told Bayless she was not interested in him and did not “date at work”. She also claims she told Bayless she was suffering from ovarian cancer, after developing issues with her left ovary, in an
effort to halt his advances.Instead, Bayless became more aggressive over the years, according to the suit. He allegedly offered Faraji $1.5 million to have sex with him–and claimed he could “change” her life. The suit also claims Bayless accused Faraji of sleeping with Shannon Sharpe, his co-star on Undisputed.As the suit alleges: “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.”During her time at Fox, Faraji alleges she made multiple complaints to the Human Resources and Employee Relations departments.
Faraji also alleged, per the report, that FOX Sports executive vice president for content Charlie Dixon grabbed her buttocks and a party. She said in the suit that when she complained, network host Joy Taylor dismissively told her to “get over it.”
The alleged victim is requesting a jury trial and punitive and compensatory damages of an undisclosed amount.
Faraji began working at the network in 2012 and claimed Bayless began to harass her beginning in 2016 after he left ESPN and Undisputed was launched.
Bayless left his FS1 job last August after eight years when his contract expired, he confirmed on social media: