Sports analyst and broadcast Skip Bayless was recently thrown with serious allegations of workplace misconduct and sexual harassment by a former Fox Sports 1 employee. However, despite him being one of the alleged offenders in the lawsuit, people online and on social media have focused on one person who was also part of the lawsuit but was not accused of anything serious—FS1 host Joy Taylor.
In one of the recent episodes of The Stephen A. Smith Show, the “First Take” host and former colleague of Skip Bayless pointed out how the internet has “shifted” its focus away from the accused on the lawsuit and towards Joy Taylor, who was alleged to have slept with multiple men in exchange of favors and workplace opportunities.
“There’s been a lot of reaction to this story all over social media,” Stephen A. said. “Has it been about Charlie Dixon? Not that much. Has it even been about Skip Bayless? Not that much at all. It’s all significantly paled in comparison to the level of vitriol, venom, insults, and beyond aimed at one [person]—Miss Joy Taylor.”
Photo credit: @joytaylortalks
With this said, Stephen A.’s co-host Tori Cooper expressed his confusion and disappointment over people attacking Joy Taylor for alleged stories about her.
“Why is such a focus on Joy Taylor?” Cooper asked. “She’s not being accused of sexual battery. She’s not being accused [of] sexual harassment. She’s being accused of engaging in sexual behavior to earn her spot that she has on Fox Sports.”
“Now the problem I have with this Stephen is this continues to be the issue in this industry is when a man gets there, he earned it. When a woman gets there, she slept her way to the top.”
Cooper also reminded people that regardless of what was said about Joy Taylor in the lawsuit, everything about it remains to be allegations unless proven otherwise.
“[Are we] just going to completely negate her experience and the fact that she is more than qualified to be in this role?” And if you just read this lawsuit at face value—and this is my problem with these lawsuits—is people just take it as fact. These are allegations at the end of the day.”
What are Skip Bayless and Joy Taylor Accused of?
In the 42-page lawsuit filed by former FS1 hairstylist Noushin Faraji, Skip Bayless was accused of sexual harassment and offering Fararji $1.5 million for sex.
The lawsuit also alleged that Joy Taylor, when made aware of Faraji’s woes, dismissed the information and told the hairstylist to “get over it.”
Skip Bayless (left). Photo source: @skipbayless and Joy Taylor (right), photo source:(@joytaylortalks
So far, neither Skip Bayless nor Joy Taylor have addressed the allegations thrown their way.
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Yelle is a broadcast communications graduate from the University of Perpetual Help-Dalta and has pursued a career in television and news writing in Net 25 and Radyo Agila. Some of her works can also be seen through her previous publication in Fastbreak.com.ph.
