The sports media world is abuzz following the shocking lawsuit filed against Fox Sports, naming high-profile personalities Skip Bayless and Joy Taylor as defendants. The lawsuit, brought forth by former Fox Sports hairstylist Noushin Faraji, includes allegations of workplace misconduct that have sent ripples through the industry. While reactions have poured in from sports media veterans like Shannon Sharpe, Marcellus Wiley, and even Stephen A. Smith, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has taken a unique stance, openly questioning the validity of the lawsuit.
Portnoy Labels the Lawsuit “Bullshit”
Portnoy, known for his outspoken nature, didn’t hold back when addressing the lawsuit, which includes serious allegations.
Among the claims: Bayless allegedly offered Faraji $1.5 million for sex, and Taylor reportedly had consensual relationships with Fox Sports EVP of Content Charlie Dixon and co-host Emmanuel Acho to advance her career.
Portnoy dismissed the claims, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “Just accusing people of shit doesn’t make it facts. Time will tell. I will say I think all the accused shouldn’t listen to their lawyers + should loudly be defending themselves if they are innocent.”
RELATED: Jason Whitlock Reveals Crass Reasons for Steering Clear of Joy Taylor at FOX Sports
Breaking Down the Allegations
The lawsuit contains multiple eyebrow-raising accusations. One excerpt alleges that Joy Taylor used her sexuality to gain career opportunities, including a position on Speak for Yourself. According to the lawsuit:
“In approximately February 2020, Ms. Taylor asked Ms. Faraji to meet her for lunch in Beverly Hills. When Ms. Faraji arrived, she found Ms. Taylor with a man, Emmanuel Acho. … Ms. Faraji later asked Ms. Taylor if Mr. Acho also worked at Fox. Ms. Taylor confirmed and explained that she wanted Mr. Acho to eventually recommend her on the show Speak for Yourself.”
The filing also claims that Taylor planned to leverage her relationships to further her career, allegedly stating she would accuse Dixon of misconduct once he was no longer useful to her.
Portnoy’s Scathing Critique
Portnoy didn’t mince words, particularly when addressing Taylor’s involvement in the lawsuit. “Who fcking cares if they had a consensual relationship or not?”* Portnoy wrote. “And since when is [Emmanuel] Acho some heavyweight who gets people promoted? I honestly don’t even know why Joy Taylor is in the lawsuit. … Makes ZERO sense.”
He also questioned the motivations behind the lawsuit, describing it as a “shakedown” and advising his three million followers to reserve judgment before condemning any of the defendants.
The Response from Fox Sports
While Bayless and Taylor have remained silent, Fox Sports issued a brief statement to Front Office Sports, saying, “We take these allegations seriously and have no further comment at this time given this pending litigation.”
Taylor returned to her FS1 show Speak on Monday, alongside co-hosts Paul Pierce, Keyshawn Johnson, and Michael Irvin, while Bayless addressed unrelated topics in a new episode of his podcast.
Portnoy’s Advice: Fight Back Publicly
Portnoy also took aim at the legal strategies employed by high-profile defendants in cases like these. He argued that staying silent often does more harm than good, particularly in the court of public opinion.
“They may end up being true,” he said, “but lawyers always give the worst advice ever, especially at big companies. They worry about Fox, not the people. No lawyer in the history of the world has ever told me to publicly defend myself. They are always wrong.”
A Divided Reaction
As the lawsuit continues to unfold, opinions remain divided. Supporters of the defendants argue that the allegations lack credibility, while others call for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth.
For now, the lawsuit has left a cloud over Fox Sports and its star personalities. Whether the accusations hold water or prove to be baseless, one thing is clear: this legal battle is far from over.
