Reactions from across sports media regarding the stunning lawsuit alleging widespread workplace misconduct at FS1 are beginning to trickle in.
Sunday, Front Office Sports reported on a lawsuit filed in California by a former Fox Sports hairstylist alleging numerous instances of sexual harassment and racist remarks from on-air talent and a network executive. The accusations were wide-ranging and implicated a number of Fox Sports employees.
Among the primary subjects in the lawsuit is former FS1 host Skip Bayless. The lawsuit alleges that Bayless made sexual advancements on the hairstylist, Noushin Faraji, for years, and at one point offered her $1.5 million in return for sex.
Bayless has had a long career as a sports opinionist, but is perhaps best known for his stint on ESPN’s First Take alongside Stephen A. Smith. The two have a lengthy history together and as such, Smith’s opinion on Bayless is often sought out when his former debate partner is in the news.
On Monday’s episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith largely took a “wait and see” approach to the accusations, though defended Bayless based on the time they knew each other.
“Here’s what I would tell you…I’ve known Skip for [25 years], I can’t imagine it. I can’t imagine it. Especially when they brought up the $1.5 million, the Skip Bayless I know has a hard time giving away $15. He’s one of the cheapest people I know.
“But that doesn’t mean that I had any inside knowledge about any of this. I don’t and I’m not going to get involved.”
Smith went on to describe the many years he and Bayless worked together would not have led him to believe his former colleague was capable of the alleged conduct.
“Imagining him being in this kind of position is shocking to say the least. All I can tell you is that it’s not the Skip Bayless I know. But obviously this is a legal matter he’s going to have to deal with because this situation doesn’t appear to be going away.”
Stephen A. would also go so far to say that he’s “heartbroken” his old debate partner is going through these circumstances.
“I’m very very heartbroken that he finds himself in this situation, being accused of these allegations. But I can’t be over the airways being irresponsible and attaching truth or guilt to anything that I know nothing about.”
Smith is wisely not drawing any conclusions based on the initial lawsuit, but is well within his right to comment on Bayless’ character by drawing on their history together.
For his part, Bayless opted not to address the allegations on the Monday episode of his podcast.