Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Fox Sports Host Offered Hairstylist $1.5M for Sex, Lawsuit Alleges
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 1 day ago on
January 6, 2025

A FOX Sports banner is viewed behind the end zone before an NFL football game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

LOS ANGELES — A woman who worked as a hairstylist for Fox Sports alleges in a lawsuit that former host Skip Bayless made repeated, unwanted advances toward her — including an offer of $1.5 million to have sex with him.

Attorneys for Noushin Faraji, who was a hair stylist at Fox for more than a decade, are seeking unspecified damages from Bayless, Fox Sports and its parent company, Fox Corporation, according to a copy of the lawsuit filed Friday in California Superior Court in Los Angeles.

The complaint claims Fox executives fostered a hostile work environment that allowed senior managers and on-air personalities including Bayless to abuse workers without fear of punishment.

Allegations of Unwanted Advances

Faraji claimed that the advances by Bayless, which began in 2017 and continued until last year — included lingering hugs, kisses on the cheek and comments from Bayless that he could change Faraji’s life if she had sex with him.

In 2021, she claims in the suit, Bayless offered Faraji $1.5 million for sex and, after she refused, later threatened her job.

“Ms. Faraji knew that he was trying to pressure her into having sex with him, but she kept repeating that she was a professional that had to be kind to all talent,” the lawsuit says.

Fox Sports’ Response and Bayless’s Departure

Bayless worked for Fox Sports until 2024 when his show was canceled after its ratings plummeted with the departure of his co-host, Shannon Sharpe.

Fox Sports said in a statement that it takes the allegations seriously but had no further comment given the pending lawsuit.

An attorney for Bayless, Jared Levine, did not immediately respond to AP’s telephone and text messages seeking comment. Email and phone messages left at Bayless’s talent company were not immediately returned.

Bayless could not be reached directly for comment.

Broader Implications and Class-Action Status

Faraji said she was fired in 2024 based on “fabricated” reasons. The lawsuit said she initially remained quiet about her treatment at Fox, believing she could be in danger if she went public.

The suit also claims Fox employees were not paid their full wages or overtime. It seeks class-action status on behalf of other workers who allegedly were impacted.

In 2017 Fox Sports fired its head of programming amid a probe of sexual harassment allegations.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Flying Taxis on the Horizon as Aviation Soars Into a New Frontier

DON'T MISS

Former CEO of Fresno EOC Is Returning to Head Troubled Agency

DON'T MISS

Northern Illinois Will Join Mountain West for Football Only in 2026

DON'T MISS

US Justice Department Accuses Six Major Landlords of Scheming to Keep Rents High

DON'T MISS

Trump Refuses to Rule Out Use of Military Force to Take Control of Greenland and the Panama Canal

DON'T MISS

Bredefeld Tries to ‘Shake up Good Ol’ Boys Club’ on Day One

DON'T MISS

Aubrey Plaza Responds to Husband Jeff Baena’s Death: ‘Unimaginable Tragedy’

DON'T MISS

Washington Post Lays Off 4% of Its Workforce

DON'T MISS

Peter Yarrow of Folk-Music Trio Peter, Paul and Mary Dies at 86

DON'T MISS

Raiders Fire Coach Antonio Pierce. Who Will They Hire Next?

UP NEXT

Former CEO of Fresno EOC Is Returning to Head Troubled Agency

UP NEXT

Northern Illinois Will Join Mountain West for Football Only in 2026

UP NEXT

US Justice Department Accuses Six Major Landlords of Scheming to Keep Rents High

UP NEXT

Bredefeld Tries to ‘Shake up Good Ol’ Boys Club’ on Day One

UP NEXT

Aubrey Plaza Responds to Husband Jeff Baena’s Death: ‘Unimaginable Tragedy’

UP NEXT

Washington Post Lays Off 4% of Its Workforce

UP NEXT

Peter Yarrow of Folk-Music Trio Peter, Paul and Mary Dies at 86

UP NEXT

Raiders Fire Coach Antonio Pierce. Who Will They Hire Next?

UP NEXT

Madera Authorities Warn About Fake Letters Circulating in Ranchos Community

UP NEXT

Marjaree Mason Center Introduces New Crisis Response Manager

US Justice Department Accuses Six Major Landlords of Scheming to Keep Rents High

12 minutes ago

Trump Refuses to Rule Out Use of Military Force to Take Control of Greenland and the Panama Canal

2 hours ago

Bredefeld Tries to ‘Shake up Good Ol’ Boys Club’ on Day One

2 hours ago

Aubrey Plaza Responds to Husband Jeff Baena’s Death: ‘Unimaginable Tragedy’

2 hours ago

Washington Post Lays Off 4% of Its Workforce

3 hours ago

Peter Yarrow of Folk-Music Trio Peter, Paul and Mary Dies at 86

3 hours ago

Raiders Fire Coach Antonio Pierce. Who Will They Hire Next?

4 hours ago

Madera Authorities Warn About Fake Letters Circulating in Ranchos Community

4 hours ago

Marjaree Mason Center Introduces New Crisis Response Manager

4 hours ago

Fresno DUI Crash Kills 2, Police Name Suspect

5 hours ago

Flying Taxis on the Horizon as Aviation Soars Into a New Frontier

SAN FRANCISCO — When he was still a boy making long, tedious trips between his school and his woodsy home in the mountains during the 1980s,...

5 minutes ago

5 minutes ago

Flying Taxis on the Horizon as Aviation Soars Into a New Frontier

8 minutes ago

Former CEO of Fresno EOC Is Returning to Head Troubled Agency

9 minutes ago

Northern Illinois Will Join Mountain West for Football Only in 2026

12 minutes ago

US Justice Department Accuses Six Major Landlords of Scheming to Keep Rents High

2 hours ago

Trump Refuses to Rule Out Use of Military Force to Take Control of Greenland and the Panama Canal

2 hours ago

Bredefeld Tries to ‘Shake up Good Ol’ Boys Club’ on Day One

2 hours ago

Aubrey Plaza Responds to Husband Jeff Baena’s Death: ‘Unimaginable Tragedy’

3 hours ago

Washington Post Lays Off 4% of Its Workforce

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend