Stephen A. Smith lifts the lid on the real Skip Bayless amid shocking lawsuit as he labels him ‘cheap’ and unsociable

Stephen A. Smith has vigorously defended his longtime friend Skip Bayless and attempted to shed light on the man behind a series of troubling allegations in a bombshell Fox Sports lawsuit.

Bayless, Joy Taylor, network executive Charlie Dixon and the Fox Corporation are named in a lawsuit filed in LA, much of which focuses on allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault, negligent supervision, retaliation and other hostile workplace issues between 2012 and 2024.

The 42-page document accuses Bayless of offering ex-FS1 hairstylist Noushin Faraji, who filed the suit, $1.5 million for sex.

Speaking of his self-titled The Stephen A. Smith Show On Monday night, Smith made a concerted effort not to talk about the issue, but he was eager to provide insight into Bayless as a person.

“Here’s what I’d tell you. I already know Skip [25 years]“I can’t imagine,” Smith said in the segment, adding that he doesn’t think he would be “capable of doing that.”

“Especially when they brought up ‘$1.5 million,’” he added. “The Skip Bayless I know has a hard time giving away $15. He is one of the cheapest people I know.

“But that doesn’t mean I have any inside knowledge about any of this,” Smith continued. “I’m not doing that and I’m not going to get involved.”

A lawsuit filed by a former FS1 hairstylist accuses Bayless of offering her $1.5 million for sex

Smith and Bayless worked together for four years on ESPN’s First Take before the latter left for FS1 in 2016.

While his former colleague was involved in the lawsuit, Smith emphasized the importance of defending him without dismissing the allegations amid a legal battle.

“I think it’s incredibly risky and irresponsible for people who don’t know to pretend they do,” Smith added.

“But in the same breath, 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 around, the person I’m in worked together in his case. Four years of being the person I’ve seen who really doesn’t trust anyone and doesn’t expose herself to anyone.

“Eating the same breakfast and lunch every day, his vice is diet Mountain Dew, and he doesn’t socialize with people, that’s the man I know. So it’s shocking, to say the least, to imagine him in that situation.”

“All I can tell you is that this is not the Skip Bayless I know,” he declared.

“I am very, very heartbroken that he is in this situation and accused of these allegations,” Smith continued. “But I can’t be irresponsible on air and attach truth and blame to something I know nothing about.”

In addition to Bayless, the lawsuit also alleged that Taylor “used sexual relations” [Emmanuel] Acho and network manager Charlie Dixon to continue her career’.

Smith and Bayless co-hosted ESPN’s First Take for four years before Bayless left for Fox

Hairstylist Noushin Faraji (pictured) has accused Fox Sports of creating a hostile workplace

The lawsuit claims 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 hairdresser to “get over it.”

“I’m not here to hate Miss Faraji or anyone else,” Smith said. “I don’t know Charlie Dixon that well, even though he worked at ESPN. I don’t know Joy Taylor very well, although she and I have worked together several times during her career and I think she is a professional, very good at what she does.

“I also know she’s big on female empowerment, so it’s hard to imagine her saying ‘get over it.’ But then again, I don’t know.’

After eight years at Fox, Bayless surprisingly left the network on August 2, 2024. His departure came as a shock as he did not say goodbye or opt out of the broadcast in his final episode of Undisputed.

Smith highlighted Taylor’s professionalism and efforts to promote women’s empowerment

According to Faraji’s lawsuit, Taylor used sexual relationships with Acho (left) and network executive Charlie Dixon (right) to further her career

After the program, Bayless took to X and wrote, “Today was my last show on Undisputed. I’m leaving FS1. I have been planning to pursue other opportunities for several months now. I’ve had a great eight-year run with a lot of great people at FOX, but now I’m excited about what’s to come. 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 ongoing litigation.”

DailyMail.com has contacted Acho and Taylor management for comment.

Taylor appeared on FS1’s Speak with Paul Pierce, Keyshawn Johnson and Michael Irvin on Monday night – her first TV appearance since the allegations surfaced.