Hairstylist Claims Skip Bayless Proposed $1.5 Million for Sexual Encounter: Report
Skip Bayless Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images/Getty Images
Sports media figure Skip Bayless has been accused of consistently harassing a former hairstylist from Fox Sports, reportedly offering her $1.5 million for sexual favors.
In a lawsuit filed on Friday, January 3 in Los Angeles, which was accessed by Front Office Sports, Noushin Faraji — who worked with Fox Sports from 2012 until August 2024 — claims that the harassment commenced when she began her role on FS1’s Undisputed, a show cohosted by Bayless and Shannon Sharpe from 2016 until August 2024.
Bayless allegedly made the monetary proposal to Faraji after learning about her ovarian cancer diagnosis, hoping it would dissuade his advances. In reply, Bayless noted he could “change” her circumstances.
“The more you say no the more I want you,” Bayless reportedly told Faraji according to the suit.
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Throughout her tenure on Undisputed, Faraji alleged that Bayless would give her “prolonged hugs and kisses on the cheek” while pressing against her bodily.
Faraji, a single mother, asserted that she repeatedly expressed her disinterest and clarified that she did not “date at work.”
Moreover, Faraji claimed that Bayless made a derogatory comment about her ethnicity as she attempted to reject his advances.
“Mr. Bayless made another advance at Ms. Faraji,” the lawsuit states. “Ms. Faraji protested: ‘Skip, stop, you have a wife.’ In response, Mr. Bayless remarked: ‘Aren’t you Muslim? Doesn’t your father have three to four wives?’ Ms. Faraji replied that her father had passed away, upon which Mr. Bayless appeared surprised and she took the opportunity to excuse herself from the conversation.” (Bayless has been married to Ernestine Sclafani since 2016.)
As per the lawsuit, Faraji filed numerous complaints with the Human Resources and Employee Relations departments while at Fox.
In a statement to Front Office Sports, Fox Sports remarked, “We take these allegations seriously and have no further comment at this time due to the ongoing litigation.”
Us Weekly contacted a lawyer and representatives for Bayless for their statements.
Undisputed was terminated in August 2024, although there was no mention of any inappropriate behavior by Bayless during the announcement. Faraji claims she was dismissed by Fox Sports shortly after the show’s conclusion.
At the time, Bayless stated he had been “thinking about pursuing new opportunities for several months. I had a fantastic 8-year journey with many remarkable individuals at Fox, but I’m now eager for the future. Keep watching for updates.”
“Despite Ms. Faraji being an outstanding hairstylist and frequently requested by talent, her role was minimized to how well she could please Mr. Bayless, and once he departed, so did her position,” the lawsuit alleges.
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The lawsuit further states that Bayless accused Faraji of having an affair with Sharpe, Bayless’ previous Undisputed cohost.
Faraji claims that Bayless later apologized for his accusation regarding Sharpe in 2023, admitting it was false.
Sharpe himself reacted to the lawsuit on Sunday, January 5, during his “Nightcap” podcast.
“That has nothing to do with me,” Sharpe stated. “It really doesn’t. What do you want me to say? It doesn’t concern me. So, there’s nothing to discuss.”
