Stephen A. Smith has staunchly defended his old friend Skip Bayless and attempted to shed light on the man behind a series of troubling allegations in an explosive Fox Sports lawsuit.
Bayless, Joy Taylor, network executive Charlie Dixon and Fox Corporation were named in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, much of which centers on allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault, negligent supervision, retaliation and other hostile workplace issues. between 2012 and 2024.
In the 42-page document, Bayless is accused of offering former FS1 stylist Noushin Faraji, who filed the lawsuit, $1.5 million in exchange for sex.
Talking about his namesake The Stephen A. Smith Show On Monday night, Smith made a concerted effort not to speak on the matter, but was willing to provide information about Bayless as a person.
'This is what I would tell you. “I've known Skip for (25 years), I can't imagine it,” Smith said in the segment, adding that he doesn't think he's “capable of it.”
“Especially when they brought '1.5 million dollars,'” he added. 'The Skip Bayless I know finds it difficult to give away $15. He is one of the cheapest people I know.
“But that doesn't mean I have any inside knowledge about all of this,” Smith continued. “I don't and I'm not going to get involved.”
Stephen A. Smith Lifted the Lid on Skip Bayless as a Person Amid Fox Sports Lawsuit
Lawsuit filed by former FS1 hairstylist accuses Bayless of offering him $1.5 million for sex
Smith and Bayless worked together on ESPN's First Take for four years before the latter left to join FS1 in 2016.
With his former colleague involved in the lawsuit, Smith emphasized the importance of coming to his defense without dropping the allegations in the midst of a legal battle.
“I think it's incredibly risky and irresponsible for people who don't know to act like they do,” Smith added.
“But at the same time, I think it's important that if you know people, it's not a crime for you to say, the person I know, the person I've been with, the person I worked with on their case, for four years in a row , the person I have seen who doesn't really trust anyone and doesn't expose himself to anyone.
'He eats the same breakfast and lunch every day, his vice is the Mountain Dew diet and he doesn't socialize with people, that's the guy I know. So to imagine him in this type of situation is, to say the least, shocking.”
“The only thing I can tell you is that that's not the Skip Bayless I know,” he declared.
“It pains me greatly that he is in this situation, being accused of these allegations,” Smith continued. “But I can't be on the airwaves being irresponsible and attributing truth and blame to something I know nothing about.”
In addition to Bayless, the lawsuit also alleges that Taylor “used sexual relationships with (Emmanuel) Acho and network executive Charlie Dixon to advance her career.”
Smith and Bayless hosted ESPN's First Take together for four years before Bayless left for Fox
Stylist Noushin Faraji (pictured) accused Fox Sports of creating a hostile workplace
The lawsuit alleges that FS1 stars Emmanuel Acho and Joy Taylor had a sexual relationship.
Additionally, Taylor is accused of dismissing Faraji's sexual harassment complaints against Bayless and Dixon, telling the stylist to “get over it.”
“I'm not here to hate Ms. Faraji or anyone else,” Smith said. 'I don't know Charlie Dixon very well, even though he used to work at ESPN. I don't know Joy Taylor very well even though she and I have interacted on several occasions throughout her career and I consider her to be a professional, very good at what she does.
'I also know that she is very supportive of women's empowerment, so it's hard to imagine her saying “get over it.” But again, I don't know.
After eight years at Fox, Bayless surprisingly left the network on August 2, 2024. Her departure came as a shock as she did not say goodbye or sign off on air in her final episode of Undisputed.
Smith emphasized Taylor's professionalism and efforts to advance women's empowerment.
Taylor used sexual relationships with Acho (left) and network executive Charlie Dixon (right) to advance her career, according to Faraji's lawsuit.
After the show, Bayless took to X and wrote, “Today was my last show on Undisputed. I'm leaving FS1. I have been planning to look for other opportunities for several months. I had a great 8-year run with a lot of wonderful people at FOX, but now I'm excited for what's next. Stay tuned.'
When the lawsuit emerged on Sunday, a Fox Sports spokesperson told DailyMail.com: “We take these allegations seriously and have no further comment at this time given this pending litigation.”
DailyMail.com has contacted Acho and Taylor's management for comment.
Taylor appeared on FS1's Speak on Monday night with Paul Pierce, Keyshawn Johnson and Michael Irvin, her first television appearance since the allegations surfaced.