FS1 host Joy Taylor used sexual relationships with ex-NFL star co-host Emmanuel Acho and network executive Charlie Dixon to further her career, according to the bombshell lawsuit facing some of the biggest names in sports media.
In addition, the glamorous 37-year-old broadcaster is said to have schemed to protect her job at the network by fabricating a sexual misconduct allegation against Dixon, a Fox Sports executive vice president in charge of talent.
“…once Mr. Dixon was no longer useful to (Taylor), she would carry out her plan to tell the company he was forcing himself on her,” reads part of the lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles on behalf of the hairstylist. Noushin Faraji.
Taylor, Dixon, former FS1 host Skip Bayless and the Fox Corporation are named in Faraji’s lawsuit, which largely focuses on allegations of sexual battery, negligent supervision, retaliation and other hostile workplace issues between 2012 and August 2024. Bayless is accused of offering Faraji $1.5 million for sex, while Dixon is accused of groping the stylist’s buttocks.
Taylor himself is accused of dismissing Faraji’s sexual harassment complaints against Bayless and Dixon and telling the hairdresser to “get over it.”
But along with these accusations are Faraji’s claims that Taylor used sex to advance her career — first with Dixon and then with Acho, the retired NFL linebacker and Taylor’s co-host of FS1’s “Speak.”
FS1 host Joy Taylor is pictured on Emmanuel Acho’s social media account
FS1 host Joy Taylor used sexual relationships with ex-NFL star co-host Emmanuel Acho (left) and network executive Charlie Dixon (right) to further her career, according to Faraji’s lawsuit
Hairstylist Noushin Faraji (pictured) has accused Fox Sports of creating a hostile workplace
With Dixon, Faraji began to suspect that he and Taylor were having an affair in 2016, despite both being married at the time.
“About May 2016, Ms. Taylor asked Ms. Faraji to go out for drinks in Santa Monica,” reads the lawsuit, obtained by DailyMail.com. “When Ms Faraji arrived, she found Ms Taylor with an older man, Fox Sport’s Executive Vice President of Content, Mr Dixon. As Executive Vice President, Mr. Dixon is responsible for overseeing all content and production at FS1. However, Ms Faraji did not know Mr Dixon.
‘Based on their body language, Ms Faraji suspected that the couple were sleeping together, and although this concerned Ms Faraji as she knew Ms Taylor had recently married, Ms Faraji kept her opinions to herself.’
Taylor was just a fill-in at the time, but was later added to the network in a full-time role. And according to Faraji, that decision was made at Dixon’s insistence, despite Bayless’ objections.
‘Sir. Bayless later “announced to Ms. Faraji that he did not want Ms. Taylor on the show, but Mr. Dixon was adamant that Ms. Taylor be the lead,” the filing said. “Initially, Mr. Dixon arranged a dinner between Mr. Bayless and Ms. Taylor, where she arrived in provocative clothing and behaved provocatively. When that did not change Mr. Bayless’s opinion of Ms. Taylor, Mr. Dixon asked him to approve her as a favor to him. Mr. Bayless reluctantly agreed to do this as a favor to his friend.”
Joy Taylor (left) sits next to Emmanuel Acho prior to an FS1 broadcast
Taylor would soon split from her husband, Richard Giannotti, who is not named in the lawsuit.
And according to Faraji, that was because Taylor’s former ex discovered evidence of her infidelity.
“Around August 2016, Ms. Faraji attended a dinner with Ms. Taylor and her husband and Mr. Dixon and his wife,” the filing said. ‘During the dinner, Ms Taylor’s husband became suspicious that Ms Taylor and Mr Dixon were having a sexual relationship. Shortly after the dinner, Ms. Taylor’s husband found evidence of the inappropriate relationship and divorced Ms. Taylor.”
Taylor is once again accused of “using her sexuality to get on a show” in 2020, when she sought a spot on Acho’s program.
‘Madam. Faraji did not know Mr. Acho, but was aware that the two were in a romantic relationship,” the filing said.
According to Faraji, Taylor all but admitted to having sex with Acho and dismissed rumors of any jealousy by Dixon.
“A few months after meeting Mr. Acho at lunch, Ms. Faraji saw him in the hallway while he was at work,” the filing continues. ‘Madam. Faraji later asked Ms. Taylor whether Mr. Acho also worked at Fox.
‘Madam. Taylor confirmed, explaining that she wanted Mr. Acho to eventually recommend her for the show “Speak for Yourself.”
According to Faraji, Taylor was willing to make accusations against Dixon to protect her job
‘Madam. Faraji became concerned and warned Mrs. Taylor that she should probably not sleep with Mr. Dixon and Mr. Acho at the same time, as Mr. Dixon is a very powerful man who can get very angry. Mrs Taylor said she didn’t have to worry about it. She explained that she was now powerful too, and once Mr. Dixon was no longer useful to her, she would carry out her plan to tell the company that he was forcing himself on her. She wouldn’t let Mr. Dixon push her away like other female talents.”
Oddly enough, Acho has since deleted a social media post where he praised Taylor for her professionalism.
Fox released a brief statement, though Taylor, Bayless and Acho have remained silent on the matter.
“We take these allegations seriously and will allow the legal process to take its course,” the network statement said. “We have no further comment at this time.”
DailyMail.com has contacted Taylor’s foundation for comment. Attorneys for Bayless, Dixon and Taylor have not yet been made available to Los Angeles Superior Court.