Reaction to allegations in a lawsuit that Fox Sports discuss present host Skip Bayless sexually harassed his hairdresser and that FS1 host Joy Taylor had romantic relationships with two outstanding colleagues are littering social media.
It was no shock that three of sports activities tv’s most outstanding voices — who beforehand labored at Fox Sports — cleared their throats and let it go.
For Marcellus Wiley, a former NFL participant who beforehand labored at FS1, the lawsuit confirmed what he already suspected.
Former Fox Sports host Jason Whitlock congratulated himself for being cautious of girls within the community’s make-up room, then went overboard with sexist feedback about Taylor.
And Stephen A. Smith, who pioneered sports activities tv debate with Bayless on ESPN’s “First Take” program from 2012 to 2016, basically turned a signature witness for Bayless, whereas stressing that the lawsuit ought to be taken significantly .
Fox Sports hairstylist Noushin Faraji has filed a 42-page lawsuit, first reported by Front Office Sports — in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging that Bayless had propositioned her for years and supplied to pay her $1.5 million for intercourse. He additionally described a poisonous work surroundings at Fox Sports in Los Angeles, alleging that Taylor had romantic relationships with the manager vice chairman Charlie Dixon and Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL participant who co-hosted “Speak for Yourself” on FS1 with Taylor and LeSean McCoy from 2022-23.
Apparently Acho canceled a 2022 Social Media Videos by which he promoted the present’s launch by praising Taylor. In the video he mentioned: “Do you all understand how troublesome it’s to get into the place she’s in? So typically there’s misogyny and sexism working rampant in sports activities and we do not even care what ladies in sports activities need to say.
“But Joy just isn’t solely within the place of a black girl on TV, but additionally as a commentator, so she would not simply ask males what they suppose, she provides her personal distinctive and distinct imaginative and prescient. It’s onerous to do, however Joy, you probably did it. … Joy, congratulations and I sit up for working with you.
Wiley, who co-hosted “Speak for Yourself” from 2018-22 first with Whitlock after which with Acho, he addressed the cause on his podcastsaying, “I’ve by no means heard of Charlie Dixon and Joy Taylor they slept collectively. But, after listening to this, I will not deceive you. It is sensible of many issues. It unlocks so much for me.
“Sleeping with Emmanuel Acho? I’ve heard this earlier than. Several occasions, till per week or two in the past. Part of the rationale it was prompt that they do a present collectively is due to these allegations within the lawsuit that they had been sleeping collectively, conspiring to make him go. Conspiring with Charlie, conspiring with Emmanuel Acho, ‘Let’s make this work.’”
Wiley was apparently referring to a current wave of motion on Fox Sports discuss exhibits. He had been changed by Taylor and McCoy on the renamed “Speak” in 2022. But final August, Acho and McCoy moved to “Undisputed” to exchange Bayless, who was let go on account of declining rankings. Keyshawn Johnson and Paul Pierce, who had been working with Bayless on “Undisputed”, moved on to the renamed “Speak” with Taylor.
“Unlock Charlie’s piece,” Wiley mentioned. “If that had been true, I’m my story and I’m trying on the story of numerous different expertise on that community very in another way. Very completely different, in a very unhealthy method. … Imagine if Charlie slept with Joy Taylor and Emanuele Acho and is there anybody who would not sleep with Joy Taylor.
Whitlock, in his podcast”Fearless,” he mirrored on his time and interactions with Faraji whereas at Fox Sports, whereas additionally making disparaging feedback about Taylor.
“I used to be a fan of Noushin, I assumed he was a very good particular person,” Whitlock mentioned. “I assumed Noushin and all of the hair and make-up ladies at Fox Sports ought to be handled with care? Yes, sure, I did. Anyone who knew me and knew my fame at Fox Sports mentioned, “Hey, I’m going to return into this make-up room, I’m going to say little or no.” For I cannot give any of you any energy over me.’”
When Whitlock turned his consideration to Taylor, nonetheless, he tried to make her alleged romantic relationships with colleagues an emblem of what he perceives as social ills. He then made questionable private feedback about his bodily look that the Times is not going to repeat.
“Joy Taylor is an emblem of this complete feminist motion, this complete black queens motion, this complete DEI motion,” she mentioned. “All this sharing all the pieces with ladies and, ‘Hey, there must be a feminine host on all these exhibits.’ Well, there are penalties to this, and the complete system was created to create the sort of chaos, division, inefficiency and corruption that we’re seeing spelled out on this lawsuit, (and) all through the American media.”
“Basically, for probably the most half, I simply stored my distance from Joy Taylor. Not as a result of I did not prefer it, simply because I knew myself. I do know what I’m able to. … Like, ‘Jay, hold your distance, that is going to get you in hassle.’”
Smith, by comparability, took the excessive street in his podcast, “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” stating that whereas she is “heartbroken” for her former colleague Bayless, she has no data of the veracity of Faraji’s allegations.
“I have not been in that (Fox Sports) constructing in over 20 years, I’m not right here to chastise Ms. Faraji. I do not know what occurred,” he mentioned. “I’ve identified Skip simply as lengthy and I am unable to think about him. The Skip Bayless I do know has a tough time making a gift of $15. He’s one of many most cost-effective individuals I do know. … Imagine him on this place it is surprising to say the least, and all I may let you know is that it isn’t the Skip Bayless I do know.
“But that does not imply I’ve in-depth data about it – I do not. And I’ve no intention of getting concerned. It’s extremely dangerous for individuals who do not know the best way to act like they know. “
Smith added that individuals he has spoken to “who’ve some data” of Faraji say his allegations shouldn’t be taken frivolously.
“This one that is a hairdresser, individuals I’ve talked to within the final 24 hours who’ve some data of her say she’s meticulous along with her particulars and he or she’ll inform issues and that is how she operates,” he mentioned.
