• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Law

Fox Seeks Dismissal of Sex Abuse Lawsuit, While Bayless, Taylor Deny Wrongdoing

A former hairstylist alleged members of Fox Sports’ staff sexually harassed and mocked her in a complaint filed last month.

A Fox Sports camera records on the sideline prior to the NCAA football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
Imagn Images

On Sunday, all eyes will turn to Fox for its presentation of Super Bowl LIX.

Behind the scenes, the company is fighting back against a sexual harassment lawsuit raised by a former hairstylist last month.

Fox filed a request Tuesday in Los Angeles to dismiss the lawsuit brought against it by Noushin Faraji, which was first reported by Front Office Sports.

That same day, both Skip Bayless and Joy Taylor, who are listed as defendants in the case, filed separate responses to the allegations and made similar arguments in their defense. Their filings were first reported by Awful Announcing

Faraji’s 42-page complaint alleged Fox Sports EVP Charlie Dixon and then-host Bayless touched her inappropriately, including Bayless offering her $1.5 million to have sex with him. The suit also claims host Taylor insulted and mocked her. Separately, former host Julie Stewart-Binks filed a suit in January accusing Dixon of “forcefully” sexually assaulting her. Dixon has reportedly been suspended by the network.

Both Bayless and Taylor deny the allegations made against them.

Attorneys for Fox cite the doctrine of “unclean hands,” saying Faraji cannot bring a lawsuit against them because she also engaged in inequitable behavior. The filing claims Faraji “failed to take reasonable steps to avoid or mitigate the damages” she alleges, saying she “had a duty” to do so.

“[Faraji] unreasonably failed to take advantage of any preventative or corrective opportunities provided by [Fox] or to avoid harm otherwise, and thus [Faraji’s] claims are barred,” the network’s filing reads. Faraji’s suit says she made multiple complaints to the Human Resources and Employee Relations departments at Fox.

Fox’s filing says that if any of their employees did commit the actions Faraji says they did, they were done “outside the scope of employment and not by agents of [Fox], and thus, [Fox is] not liable for such acts.” And, it says any alleged actions that might be “legally attributable” to the network were “not unlawful inasmuch as the conduct was reasonably and properly based on legitimate business reasons and non-retaliatory factors.” In all, Fox listed 46 reasons why it believed Faraji’s complaint should be thrown out in its entirety.

Bayless and Taylor made similar arguments in their own filings. Bayless denied all allegations against him and said Faraji “consented” to his alleged actions, which include “lingering hugs and kisses on the cheek while putting his body against hers and pressing against her breasts,” according to Faraji’s lawsuit. 

Both Bayless and Taylor cite “unclean hands” just as Fox did, and use similar external arguments for Faraji’s “emotional distress albeit with different terms.” Bayless cites “pre-existing psychological or medical conditions,” while Taylor’s filing cites “outside factors.” 

Similar to Fox Sports’ defense, Taylor and Bayless argued Faraji’s failure to address her complaints through internal options at Fox Sports should be grounds for dismissal. In her lawsuit, Faraji said she reported multiple incidents to HR, but the office failed to help her. 

In his response to Faraji’s claims, Bayless also argues she “consented, by words or conduct, to the conduct alleged.”

Bayless and Taylor filed separate defenses from the network with different representation despite being legally entitled by California law to be represented by their employer and have their defense paid for. Bayless hasn’t worked for the network since August 2024, but could still be covered because he worked at the network during the alleged period in which Faraji’s accusations took place.

Representatives for Fox Sports, Bayless, Taylor, and Faraji did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Fox executives addressed the media in New Orleans on Thursday afternoon ahead of the Super Bowl, and they did not comment on the lawsuits.

“The last thing they want is for this to become a distraction in New Orleans,” a source close to Fox told FOS last month.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

Manfred Says MLB Had Wrong Approach to Creators Like Jomboy

“You gotta go where people are going,” the commissioner said.
(NCL_OSU_11_SUGAR_LAURON 04JAN11) Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) slips around the Arkansas Razorbacks defense during first half of the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, January 4, 2011.

Terrelle Pryor’s Case for NIL Backpay Dismissed in Court

Pryor played seven years in the NFL after leaving OSU amid a scandal.
Jun 9, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz (45) reacts after giving up a home run during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field.

MLB Pitcher’s Paid Leave Extended Through August As Betting Probe Continues

Leagues have been dealing with a host of sports betting issues.

Featured Today

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.
July 17, 2025

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Princeton

Transgender Sprinter Sues Princeton Over Last-Minute Ban

The sprinter was removed 15 minutes before her race.
Caster Semenya
July 10, 2025

Caster Semenya’s Legal Win Could Reopen Fight Against Testosterone Limits

The Olympian champion’s appeal against gender eligibility rules continues.
July 16, 2025

Judge Rules for NFL, Fanatics Against Small Apparel Seller

The lawsuit argued the NFL “aids and abets” Fanatics with its strategy.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
A set of trading cards
July 9, 2025

Judge Rules Against Fanatics as Panini Case Gets Rancorous

A judge ordered Fanatics to turn over unredacted trading card licenses.
May 9, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Sports are shown on TVs behind the bar as guests enjoy the grand opening of DraftKings Sports & Social in the Short North. Though there are no on-site betting windows, eligible customers can place bets through the DraftKings app.
July 3, 2025

PrizePicks Drops Suit Against Ex-Employee Who Left for DraftKings

The ex-employee still disputes the allegations.
Wander Franco
June 26, 2025

Wander Franco Convicted of Child Sex Abuse, Receives 2-Year Suspended Sentence

Franco can avoid jail time but is unlikely to return to MLB.
Wimbledon
June 25, 2025

Players Suing Tennis Begin Negotiations With Grand Slams

They may add the Slams as defendants if talks fail in 90 days.