A former Fox Sports hairstylist has filed a lawsuit against ex-host Skip Bayless accusing him of making unwanted sexual advances towards her over several years, according to the suit filed in California Superior Court in Los Angeles.
According to the 42-page legal complaint, the plaintiff, Noushin Faraji, who worked at Fox for more than a decade, is seeking unspecified damages from Bayless, Fox Sports, and its parent company, Fox Corporation. The lawsuit alleges that Fox executives created a hostile work environment that allowed senior managers and on-air personalities, including Bayless, to mistreat employees without consequences.
The lawsuit points to a pattern of alleged inappropriate behavior by Bayless which allegedly began in 2017 and continued until 2024.
The legal documents further allege that after Faraji refused Bayless’s alleged $1.5 million offer for sex, he retaliated by threatening her employment. Bayless remained with Fox Sports until 2024, when his show was reportedly canceled due to plummeting ratings following the departure of his co-host, Shannon Sharpe.
Faraji claims she was terminated in 2024 for what she describes as “fabricated” reasons. “Fox systematically reduced her work schedule and ultimately terminated her employment by removing her from the schedule entirely,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit explains that she initially remained silent about her treatment at Fox, fearing potential repercussions if she went public with her allegations.
In addition to the sexual harassment claims, the lawsuit also alleges wage and overtime violations at Fox. It seeks class-action status to represent other workers who may have been similarly affected.
As of the time of reporting, Bayless’s attorney, Jared Levine, had not responded to requests for comment from the Associated Press. Attempts to reach Bayless directly were also unsuccessful.
Fox Sports, in a statement, said they take the allegations seriously but refrained from further comment due to the pending litigation.