LOS ANGELES — A hairstylist who previously worked with Fox Sports has filed a lawsuit, accusing former host Skip Bayless of making multiple unwanted advances towards her, including a proposal of $1.5 million for an intimate encounter.
The lawsuit, submitted in the California Superior Court in Los Angeles, involves Noushin Faraji, who was employed as a hairstylist at Fox for over a decade. Her legal representatives are pursuing unspecified damages from Bayless, Fox Sports, and its parent company, Fox Corporation.
Faraji’s complaint asserts that the management at Fox fostered an environment rife with hostility, which enabled senior executives and on-air talent like Bayless to mistreat employees without the fear of repercussions.
Usually, identities of individuals who allege sexual assault or abuse are not disclosed, unless they have publicly identified themselves, as Faraji has done in her lawsuit.
Jared Levine, an attorney representing Bayless, has not yet responded to requests for comment communicated via phone and text. Inquiries directed at Bayless’s talent agency have also gone unanswered.
Fox Sports has acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but has chosen not to provide any comments while the lawsuit is underway.
The allegations detailed by Faraji reveal that Bayless’s advances began in 2017 and continued through the previous year, including prolonged hugs, cheek kisses, and statements suggesting he could enhance Faraji’s life in exchange for sexual relations.
According to the lawsuit, in 2021, Bayless explicitly offered her $1.5 million for sex, and when she rejected the offer, he subsequently threatened her employment.
The legal document quotes that “Ms. Faraji understood that he was exerting pressure to engage in sexual relations, but she consistently reiterated her commitment to professionalism and the importance of treating all talent with kindness.”
Bayless concluded his tenure at Fox Sports in 2024 when his show was canceled due to a significant drop in ratings after the exit of his co-host, Shannon Sharpe.
Faraji claims she was terminated in 2024 for reasons that she describes as fabricated. The suit states that she initially refrained from speaking out about her experiences at Fox due to concerns over her safety.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that workers at Fox were not compensated their full wages or owed overtime. It seeks class-action status to represent other employees who may have faced similar situations.
Notably, in 2017, Fox Sports dismissed its head of programming amid investigations into sexual harassment claims.
