Former Fox Sports Host Skip Bayless Accused of Sexual Misconduct in Lawsuit

A former hairstylist for Fox Sports, Noushin Faraji, has filed a lawsuit alleging that former host Skip Bayless made repeated, unwanted advances towards her, including offering $1.5 million for sex.

Faraji, who worked at Fox for over a decade, is seeking unspecified damages from Bayless, Fox Sports, and its parent company, Fox Corporation. The lawsuit was filed on Friday in California Superior Court in Los Angeles.

The complaint alleges that Fox executives created a hostile work environment, allowing senior managers and on-air personalities, including Bayless, to mistreat employees without fear of repercussions.

Former Fox Sports Host Skip Bayless Accused of Sexual Misconduct in Lawsuit

The Associated Press typically does not identify individuals who claim to have been sexually assaulted or abused unless they have publicly identified themselves, as Faraji has done by filing the lawsuit.

Bayless's attorney, Jared Levine, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press. Attempts to reach Bayless directly were unsuccessful.

Fox Sports issued a statement saying it takes the allegations seriously but had no further comment due to the pending lawsuit.

Faraji claims that Bayless's advances began in 2017 and continued until last year, including lingering hugs, kisses on the cheek, and comments suggesting he could change her life if she had sex with him. In 2021, Bayless allegedly offered Faraji $1.5 million for sex and later threatened her job when she refused.

The lawsuit states that Faraji felt pressured to be kind to all talent despite Bayless's advances. Bayless worked for Fox Sports until 2024 when his show was canceled following the departure of his co-host, Shannon Sharpe, which led to a decline in ratings.

Faraji claims she was fired in 2024 for "fabricated" reasons and initially remained silent about her treatment at Fox, fearing potential danger if she spoke out.

The lawsuit also alleges that Fox employees were not paid their full wages or overtime and seeks class-action status on behalf of other affected workers. In 2017, Fox Sports fired its head of programming amid a sexual harassment investigation.