Was Shannon Sharpe a driving force behind the lawsuit that involves Skip Bayless? That’s what one media personality believes.
On Friday, Noushin Faraji, a hairstylist who says she worked for FOX Sports from 2012 through August 2024, filed a 42-page lawsuit in Los Angeles in which she made troubling allegations against Bayless and others. In her suit, Faraji accused Bayless of offering her $1.5 million for sex.
Bayless was smeared in the lawsuit, as were FOX Sports EVP Charlie Dixon and FS1 host Joy Taylor, who were all named as defendants. In her lawsuit, Faraji also called out Emmanuel Acho for allegedly having a sexual relationship with Taylor.
Jason Whitlock overlapped with all of those people at FOX Sports since he hosted a talk show at FS1 from 2016-2020. The veteran media member has long said that Sharpe, who previously co-hosted a show with Bayless, was pushed out at FOX for good reasons. Nevertheless, Sharpe apparently had a grudge against Bayless and others at FOX over him being pushed out at FS1 in 2023.
According to Whitlock, Sharpe was a driving force behind Faraji’s lawsuit in order to get revenge on people he felt pushed him out, such as Bayless. Whitlock effectively claims that Sharpe had dirt on Bayless and others at FOX and may have convinced Faraji to file the lawsuit to make some of that damaging information public.
In response to news of the lawsuit being fired, Whitlock shared his Sharpe comments.
“Hat tip Shannon Sharpe. He channeled Michael Corleone in Godfather with this hit. He settled all debts. Sharpe had an accomplice or two,” Whitlock wrote on X.
Hat tip Shannon Sharpe. He channeled Michael Corleone in Godfather with this hit. He settled all debts. Sharpe had an accomplice or two. https://t.co/xtlz7GgD8R
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) January 5, 2025
In a separate post, Whitlock said it was “for sure” that Sharpe had gotten revenge.
“What I can say for sure is Shannon Sharpe got revenge on the people he viewed as doing him wrong at FS1. Another prominent personality benefited as well. It’s a dirty game,” Whitlock wrote on X.
I'm in a tough spot. I know all involved parties. The story speaks to narratives that I discuss regularly. Corruption in TV and the media. The injection of women as "host" in male discussions. I'll figure out what I'm comfortable sharing/saying. What I can say for sure is… https://t.co/F6jcoz6m3F
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) January 5, 2025
It’s unclear who the other “prominent personality” was, but there was a FS1 host who was mentioned in the lawsuit — seemingly unnecessarily — as being a complete gentleman and very professional towards Faraji. Perhaps that’s to whom Whitlock was referring, but it’s unclear.
What is clear is that Whitlock firmly believes Sharpe was behind Faraji’s lawsuit.
