Over the past two days, countless media members have weighed in on the Fox Sports lawsuit which names Skip Bayless and Joy Taylor among others as defendants. But perhaps few have attacked the claims as much as Barstool Sports President Dave Portnoy.
The lawsuit, which was filed by former Fox Sports hairstylist Noushin Faraji, alleges Bayless of multiple acts of sexual harassment including a proposal of $1.5 million from Bayless for Faraji to have sex with her and “lingering hugs and kisses on the cheek while putting his body against hers and pressing against her breasts.”
Meanwhile, Joy Taylor is accused of several instances of discrimination against Faraji based on her Muslim faith and Persian descent.
The accusations, which were first reported by Front Office Sports, go well beyond this.
On Monday, Portnoy shared his thoughts on the lawsuit in a series of posts, detailing how the allegations initially peaked his “bullshit meter” and “stinks to high heavens and feels like a shakedown.”
“My bullshit meter is on a hundred million trillion in this Fox Sports lawsuit,” wrote Portnoy on X. “Just accusing people of shit doesn’t make it facts. Time will tell. I will say I think all the accused shouldn’t listen to their lawyers + should loudly be defending themselves if they are innocent.”
My bullshit meter is on a hundred million trillion in this Fox sports lawsuit. Just accusing people of shit doesn’t make it facts. Time will tell. I will say I think all the accused shouldn’t listen to their lawyers + should loudly be defending themselves if they are innocent.
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) January 6, 2025
“Again I got no inside info on this lawsuit,” Portnoy added in a separate post on X. “I just think it stinks to high heavens and feels like a shakedown so I’d reserve judgment before burying people.”
Again I got no inside info on this lawsuit. I just think it stinks to high heavens and feels like a shakedown so I’d reserve judgement before burying people.
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) January 6, 2025
In the coming weeks and months, there will surely be more information to emerge about this case that will add clarity. But at least initially, it sure seems like Portnoy is questioning the validity of Faraji’s claims. Or at least isn’t ready to jump to conclusions about the defendants.
Portnoy’s comments on the matter garnered a ton of responses on social media. But perhaps the most prominent response to date came from ESPN’s Jay Williams, who believes that Portnoy is just commenting on the matter for “clicks”.
“So why not just reserve judgment and just say nothing,” wrote Williams. “Probably the right move… clicks, clicks, clicks…”
So why not just reserve judgement and just say nothing… Probably the right move… clicks, clicks, clicks… https://t.co/XOUzgQvHmf
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) January 7, 2025
Williams and Portnoy haven’t seen eye-to-eye on numerous sports-related topics over the years, particularly when it came to the discourse around Angel Reese when she was in college at LSU.
Perhaps Williams’ past disagreements with Portnoy fueled his most recent reply to Portnoy’s comments on the Fox Sports lawsuit. In another post on X, Williams hinted at some underlying animosity with Portnoy.
“It ain’t never hacked with Dave,” wrote Williams in reply to a question from a follower as to whether his reply wasn’t actually him.
Yes.. it was hacked 😂😂😂🙄🍿✊🏾. It ain’t never hacked with Dave. https://t.co/dSCvDP8mBy
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) January 7, 2025