A former hairstylist for Fox Sports has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County court, alleging that she was subjected to sexual harassment, misconduct, and a toxic workplace environment while employed by the network. The lawsuit, filed on Friday, accuses prominent figures at Fox Sports—including executive vice president Charlie Dixon, former host Skip Bayless, and current FS1 host Joy Taylor—of enabling and engaging in inappropriate conduct toward the plaintiff, Noushin Faraji, over the span of several years.
Faraji, who worked at Fox Sports from 2012 until August 2024, claims that the network allowed a culture of misogyny, racism, and ableism to persist, where both executives and on-air talent were free to verbally and physically abuse employees without fear of consequence. The lawsuit outlines multiple incidents of sexual harassment and retaliation, alleging that Fox Sports failed to take appropriate action despite being made aware of the misconduct.
One of the key allegations in the lawsuit involves Charlie Dixon, a high-ranking executive at Fox Sports. Faraji claims that during a 2017 party for Joy Taylor in West Hollywood, Dixon allegedly rubbed her body and grabbed her buttocks, actions that left Faraji feeling “mortified.” Faraji reportedly confided in Taylor, a friend, but was told to “get over it.”
The lawsuit further alleges that Dixon used his position of power to coerce Faraji into a sexual relationship. According to the complaint, an anonymous employee told Faraji that she would not be offered a contract renewal unless she agreed to engage in a sexual encounter with Dixon. The lawsuit claims that Dixon’s behavior was not an isolated incident, and that other women in the company were similarly targeted.
Fox Sports is accused of failing to properly investigate Dixon’s actions, allowing a toxic workplace culture to thrive and permitting Dixon to exploit his power for sexual favors. The lawsuit alleges that Fox Sports is liable for failing to intervene or protect its employees from Dixon’s advances.
In addition to Dixon, the lawsuit also targets Skip Bayless, the former host of “Undisputed” and now a YouTube podcast host. Faraji alleges that Bayless, whom she worked with for several years, repeatedly made sexual advances toward her. According to the lawsuit, Bayless began finding excuses to touch Faraji during haircuts, and despite her objections, he continued to make uncomfortable advances.
One of the most disturbing incidents detailed in the lawsuit occurred in July 2021, when Faraji informed Bayless about a potential cancer diagnosis, hoping that the personal information would discourage his advances. Instead, Bayless allegedly offered Faraji $1.5 million in exchange for sex. The complaint claims that Bayless also made derogatory comments about Faraji’s religion and accused her of having a relationship with his co-host, Shannon Sharpe.
Faraji claims that the harassment continued into 2024, with Bayless allegedly telling her that he fantasized about her and asking her how much money it would take for her to sleep with him. The lawsuit asserts that after Bayless left Fox Sports in August, Faraji was fired, with Bayless telling her that Dixon had orchestrated her termination for “knowing too much and talking.”
The lawsuit also accuses Fox Sports of retaliating against Faraji after she reported the harassment. Rather than addressing the allegations, the suit claims, Fox retaliated by terminating her employment and promoting the individuals responsible for the misconduct. Faraji states that she has suffered significant emotional distress, including shame, embarrassment, and fear, in addition to loss of earnings and other financial damages.
The lawsuit highlights that Faraji and other employees who came forward with similar complaints were ignored, and those who protected the perpetrators were rewarded with promotions instead of facing consequences for their actions.
In a statement to USA TODAY Sports, Fox Sports responded to the allegations, saying, “We take these allegations seriously and have no further comment at this time given this pending litigation.” As of now, the company has not addressed specific claims made in the lawsuit, nor provided details on any internal investigations.
In addition to Dixon and Bayless, Joy Taylor, who co-hosts FS1’s “Speak”, is also named in the lawsuit. Faraji claims that after their friendship ended, Taylor began insulting her on both a personal and professional level. Faraji, who is of Persian descent, alleges that Taylor mocked the “English” pronunciation of her name.
Faraji’s lawsuit casts a spotlight on the broader culture at Fox Sports, alleging that the network’s leadership turned a blind eye to the harassment,
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