A woman who worked as a hair stylist for Fox Sports has alleged in a lawsuit that former host Skip Bayless made repeated, unwanted advances toward her — including offering her $1.5 million to have sex with him. Was involved.
Bayless, an attorney for Nausheen Farazi, a hair stylist at Fox for more than a decade, is seeking unspecified damages from Fox Sports and its parent company, Fox Corporation, according to a copy of the lawsuit filed Friday in California Superior Court in Los Angeles. Are. Angeles.
The complaint claims that Fox executives fostered a hostile work environment that allowed senior managers and on-air personalities, including Bayless, to abuse workers without fear of punishment.
The Associated Press does not generally identify, in text or images, people who say they have been sexually harassed or abused unless they publicly identify themselves as Faraji in the lawsuit. Is not recognized as doing.
Bayless' attorney, Jared Levin, did not immediately respond to telephone and text messages from the AP seeking comment. Emails and phone messages left at Bayless' talent company were not immediately returned.
Bayless could not be reached directly for comment.
Fox Sports said in a statement that it takes the allegations seriously but had no comment given the pending litigation.
Photo by Ian Maddox for The Washington Post via Getty Images
Farazi claimed Bayless's advances, which began in 2017 and continued last year — included prolonged hugs, kisses on the cheek and comments by Bayless that she would kill Farazi if she had sex with him. Life can change.
In the lawsuit, she claims that in 2021, Bayless offered Farazi $1.5 million for sex and, after she refused, later threatened her with her job.
“Ms. Faraji was aware that he was trying to pressure her into having sex with him, but she continued to reiterate that she is a professional who has to be kind to all talents,” the lawsuit states.
Bayless worked for Fox Sports until 2024, when her show was canceled after falling ratings following the departure of her co-host Shannon Sharp.
Faraji said he was fired in 2024 on the basis of “fabricated” reasons. The lawsuit states that she initially remained silent about her treatment at Fox, believing she might be in danger if she went public.
The lawsuit also claims that Fox employees were not paid their full wages or overtime. It seeks class-action status on behalf of other workers allegedly affected.
In 2017, Fox Sports fired its programming chief amid an investigation into sexual harassment allegations.