Shannon Sharpe addresses lawsuit naming Skip Bayless, Joy Taylor, and others in Fox Sports

Shannon Sharpe responds to lawsuit alleging misconduct at Fox Sports, distancing himself from claims.

Shannon Sharpe has addressed a lawsuit filed by former Fox Sports hairstylist Noushin Faraji, which alleges sexual misconduct and harassment by several high-profile figures at the network. The lawsuit names Skip Bayless, Joy Taylor, and executive Charlie Dixon among the defendants, with allegations including unwelcome physical contact, sexual advances, and an offer of $1.5 million for sex by Bayless.

During an episode of his Nightcap YouTube show, Sharpe distanced himself from the allegations. “That has nothing to do with me. There’s nothing to address. In those 42 pages, it doesn’t mention that Shannon Sharpe did anything,” he stated, criticizing attempts to associate him with the claims for “clicks.”

While addressing the lawsuit, Sharpe also reflected on the professional rift with Bayless that led to his departure from Undisputed in 2023. He recounted a disrespectful comment from Bayless about his career, which he described as deeply hurtful. “I considered Skip a friend. For you to take that kind of personal shot at me, it really hurt me,” Sharpe said on The Stephen A. Smith Show.

Sharpe, a Hall of Fame tight end, also responded to past remarks from Bayless that he felt minimized his achievements. “I started as a seventh-rounder on special teams and played so well I made the Hall of Fame. To try to diminish that was disheartening,” he added.

The lawsuit underscores ongoing concerns about workplace misconduct at media organizations, drawing attention to significant allegations against prominent figures. Since leaving Fox, Sharpe has joined ESPN as a regular contributor on First Take with Stephen A. Smith and continues to host Nightcap alongside Chad Johnson. Meanwhile, Bayless parted ways with Fox Sports in August 2024.