Lawsuit alleges Skip Bayless harassed hairstylist and offered her $1.5 million for sex

LOS ANGELES — A woman who worked as a hairstylist for Fox Sports alleges in a lawsuit that former host Skip Bayless made repeated, unwanted advances toward her — including an offer of $1.5 million to have sex with him.

Lawyers for Noushin Faraji, who was a hairstylist at Fox for more than a decade, are seeking unspecified damages from Bayless, Fox Sports and its parent company, Fox Corporation, according to a copy of the lawsuit filed Friday in Superior Court from California to Los Angeles. Angeles.

The complaint claims that Fox executives fostered a hostile work environment that allowed top executives and on-air personalities, including Bayless, to abuse workers without fear of punishment.

The Associated Press generally does not identify in text or images those who say they were sexually assaulted or subjected to abuse unless they publicly identified themselves as Faraji when filing the complaint.

A lawyer for Bayless, Jared Levine, did not immediately respond to phone and text messages from AP seeking comment. Email and phone messages left with Bayless’ art business were not immediately returned.

Bayless could not be reached directly for comment.

Fox Sports said in a statement that it took the allegations seriously, but had no further comment given the ongoing lawsuit.

Faraji claimed that Bayless’ advances, which began in 2017 and continued until last year, included persistent hugs, kisses on the cheek and comments from Bayless that he could change Faraji’s life if she had sex with him.

In 2021, she claims in the suit, Bayless offered Faraji $1.5 million for sex and, after she refused, then threatened her job.

“MS. Faraji knew he was trying to pressure her into having sex with him, but she kept saying she was a professional who should be kind to all talents,” the statement reads. trial.

Bayless worked for Fox Sports until 2024, when his show was canceled after its ratings plummeted with the departure of his co-host, Shannon Sharpe.

Faraji said she was fired in 2024 for “fabricated” reasons. The lawsuit says she initially remained silent about her treatment at Fox, believing she might be in danger if she made it public.

The suit also claims that Fox employees did not receive their full salaries or overtime pay. He is seeking class-action status on behalf of other workers who may have been affected.

In 2017, Fox Sports fired its head of programming amid an investigation into sexual harassment allegations.