FS1 host Joy Taylor has been accused of sleeping with Emmanuel Acho to advance in her career at FOX Sports
Noushin Faraji, a Hollywood hairstylist who worked for Fox Sports from 2012 to 2024, has filed a 42-page lawsuit that has shocked the sports media industry.
FS1 host Joy Taylor, Fox Sports Executive Vice President Charlie Dixon, and Skip Bayless are among the prominent network personalities implicated in claims made by Noushin Faraji who worked as a hair stylist at FOX Sports.
Emmanuel Acho deletes video complimenting FOX Sports’ FS1 host Joy Taylor after Noushin Faraji claims they had a s*xual relationship
The defendants are charged in the case with s*xual harassment, misbehaviour, and creating a hostile work environment. Fans speculated that Emmanuel Acho was involved and had an affair with Joy after noticing that he recently removed a 2022 video in which he complimented Taylor after he was named in the lawsuit.
Faraji alleges in her lawsuit that a pattern of systematic harassment and neglect plagued her time at Fox Sports and further alleges that Taylor engaged in s*xual relationships with former NFL linebacker-turned-analyst Emmanuel Acho and later with Charlie Dixon to advance her career.
She talks of a workplace where employees in vulnerable situations were left without support and complaints were routinely ignored.
According to the suit, these alleged relationships helped Taylor secure a more prominent position and greater opportunities at the network but Taylor nor Acho has addressed the allegations publicly however, both have notably gone quiet on their social media accounts during the final regular week of the NFL season.
Emmanuel Acho has now deleted this video after a lawsuit emerged earlier today alleging he had romantic relations with Joy Taylor to help her secure a better job back in 2022 👀 pic.twitter.com/juE3j0XGN0
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) January 5, 2025
The complaint centres on Skip Bayless, a contentious personality who co-hosted FS1’s “Undisputed” until 2024 and Joy Taylor. According to Faraji, Bayless made unwanted physical contact with her for an extended amount of time, including “pressing his body against hers, including her br*asts,” and “lingering hugs” following haircuts.
The lawsuit also describes an instance in which Faraji repeatedly refused to interact with Bayless outside of a business setting, but he allegedly offered her $1.5 million for a s*xual rendezvous.
Faraji says that she was left up to more harassment because her attempts to report the behaviour were disregarded.
Regarding the accusations, Bayless has not released a statement, and Fox Sports representatives choose not to comment due to current legal proceedings.
Emmanuel Acho ain’t said nothing in 5 hours on the last day of the regular season. Them allegations are true
— im talking that talk that got Malcolm X watched (@TheBlackCyde) January 5, 2025
Allegations against Joy Taylor
Joy Taylor, a well-known FS1 host, is also named in the case and is accused of fostering a hostile work environment. Faraji alleges that Taylor rejected her worries and instructed her to “get over it” when she brought up her problems with Dixon and Bayless.
Emmanuel Acho and Joy Taylor around the FOX studios https://t.co/rb9nyCic8R pic.twitter.com/FwdjntuM0q
— Anthony Maruwa (@anthonymaruwa) January 5, 2025
Allegations against Charlie Dixon
Charlie Dixon, the EVP of Fox Sports, is also charged with inappropriate conduct. According to the lawsuit, Dixon participated in unethical activity that jeopardized workplace safety and professionalism, fostered a hostile work environment, and ignored Faraji’s objections regarding Bayless.
The lawsuit depicts a seriously defective company culture in which powerful people allegedly misused their positions without concern about consequences.
Reactions from netizens
The lawsuit has generated a lot of conversation in the sports media and elsewhere.
Many are demanding openness and a careful examination of the claims. Others have seen the incident as a sign of more significant problems in the sports media sector, which has long struggled with issues of workplace injustice and harassment.
As the case progresses, it serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to maintain courteous and safe workplaces.
Depending on how it turns out, Faraji’s case might result in major changes at Fox Sports and perhaps the entire business.