Shannon Sharpe addressed a lawsuit filed by Noushin Faraji, a former Fox Sports hairstylist, during a recent episode of his Nightcap podcast with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson. The lawsuit, which was reported by Front Office Sports, accuses Sharpe’s former Undisputed co-host, Skip Bayless, of inappropriate behavior, though Sharpe himself is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Sharpe Laughs Off Involvement in the Lawsuit
When a fan inquired about his involvement in the lawsuit, Sharpe responded with a mix of amusement and frustration. “That ain’t got nothing to do with me,” Sharpe said. “It doesn’t. What do y’all want me to say? That ain’t got nothing to do with me. So, there’s nothing to address. I don’t know why everybody keep — if you notice, everybody’s posting it, they got me.”
Sharpe made it clear that the 42-page lawsuit did not implicate him in any way, emphasizing, “In those 42 pages, it doesn’t mention that Shannon Sharpe did anything. But y’all want to get clicks, so y’all mention me.”
The Lawsuit's Allegations Against Bayless
The lawsuit centers on allegations made by Faraji, who claims that Bayless accused her of having an affair with Sharpe. Faraji, who worked at Fox Sports for over a decade, alleges that on April 13, 2022, Bayless texted her, saying, “Not comfortable coming down there. Just do what you need to do. It’s ok.” Faraji, concerned, went to Bayless’s fitting room, where Bayless allegedly confronted her angrily and accused her of having a sexual relationship with Sharpe.
Faraji denied the accusations, explaining that she had never had a romantic relationship with Sharpe or any other Fox Sports talent. According to the lawsuit, Bayless demanded that Faraji meet him in his car after the show, to which she refused, deeming it inappropriate. The situation escalated further during a phone call between Bayless and Faraji on April 16, 2022, where Bayless allegedly made lewd comments about her and Sharpe.
Faraji, in her response, told Bayless, “Even if I had been dating Mr. Sharpe, which I wasn’t, it shouldn’t matter at all because I only had a professional relationship with Mr. Bayless.” The lawsuit claims that Bayless later apologized to Faraji after learning that she and Sharpe had never been romantically involved.
Alleged Misconduct and Retaliation
The lawsuit also alleges that Charlie Dixon, an executive at Fox Sports, played a role in spreading rumors about Faraji’s personal life. According to Faraji, Dixon told Bayless that she was involved with Sharpe, which Bayless later confronted her about. Faraji claims Bayless apologized for his accusations and explained that Dixon had influenced his behavior.
In December 2023, Bayless allegedly told Faraji that Dixon had been behind the rumors and that Dixon wanted Faraji fired for knowing too much. Furthermore, Bayless reportedly tried to initiate another inappropriate encounter with Faraji, despite the earlier accusations.
Sharpe’s Departure from Undisputed and Bayless
Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless had been co-hosts on Undisputed since 2016, after Bayless left ESPN’s First Take to join Fox Sports. However, their relationship began to sour, and Sharpe departed from Undisputed in June 2023 following multiple disagreements, both on and off-camera. Sharpe reached a buyout agreement with Fox Sports and later joined ESPN in September 2023.
Faraji’s Allegations Against Fox Sports
Faraji’s lawsuit also alleges that she endured a toxic work environment at Fox Sports, citing claims of misogyny, racism, and ableism. She claims that Fox executives and talent were allowed to mistreat workers without consequence, while those who spoke up about the misconduct were retaliated against. Faraji’s complaint details multiple instances of sexual advances and physical contact by Bayless, as well as claims that Fox failed to take action when employees reported the misconduct.
Accusations of Misconduct and Retaliation
In her lawsuit, Faraji accuses Bayless of offering her $1.5 million in July 2021 in exchange for sex and claims that she faced unwelcome sexual advances and physical contact from him over the years. According to Faraji, when she and other employees came forward with their complaints, Fox retaliated against them by allowing the accused individuals to remain in positions of power and even promote them.
Sharpe’s Response to the Allegations
Though Shannon Sharpe has been named in the lawsuit, there are no allegations that he engaged in any inappropriate behavior. Sharpe’s response to the situation indicates that he wants to distance himself from the controversy, acknowledging that while the lawsuit mentions his name, it does not suggest any wrongdoing on his part. The focus remains squarely on the allegations made against Bayless and other Fox Sports executives.
As the case unfolds, Sharpe’s involvement remains limited, with his primary concern being the public misunderstanding surrounding his name being associated with the lawsuit.