Skip Bayless and Fox Sports Sued for Sexual Harassment and Offering Money for Sex

A new lawsuit has been filed against Fox Sports, executive Charlie Dixon and host Skip Bayless, alleging hostile work environment, retaliation and sexual battery. The suit was filed on January 3 in Los Angeles Superior Court by Noushin Faraji, a former hairstylist for the network.

In the suit, Faraji claims harassment by Bayless began in 2017 and continued until last year. His unwanted advances allegedly included pressing up against her, giving her lingering hugs and kissing her on the cheek. Faraji also claims Bayless made her a $1.5 million offer to have sex with him and then threatened her job after she refused.

According to the complaint, “Fox’s failure to prevent harassment perpetuated a misogynistic, racist, and ableist workplace where executives and talent were allowed to physically and verbally abuse workers with impunity.” Faraji worked for Fox Sports from 2012 until August 2024.

Faraji claims she made multiple complaints to the network’s Human Resources and Employee Relations departments during her employment with the network, but was ignored. She also claims she endured racial harassment and was called a “Persian b****” by another employee, who remains unnamed.

Bayless’ former colleague, Stephen A. Smith, reacted to the allegations on an episode of his podcast, “Stephen A. Smith Show,” last week. Referring to Bayless, he stated, “His vice is Diet Mountain Dew, and he doesn’t socialize with people. That’s the guy I know. So, imagining him being in this kind of position is shocking, to say the least.”

The suit also names executive vice president of content, Charlie Dixon, as a defendant and someone who used “his position to sexually harass women.” Faraji alleges Dixon “grabbed her buttocks” in 2017 at a party in West Hollywood. According to the suit, after Faraji told host Joy Taylor about the incident, she was allegedly told by Taylor to “get over it.”

Faraji claims Taylor and Dixon had a sexual relationship in 2016.

Barstool Sports founder, Dave Portney, publicly casted doubts on Faraji’s allegations and labeled the lawsuit a “shakedown.”

In addition to the harassment claims, the lawsuit also claims non-exempt employees for the network were not paid their full wages or overtime and seeks class-action status.