Covering a Super Bowl is a showcase event for any network, a time to be in the spotlight. However, Fox Sports in New Orleans faces a dark cloud due to multiple sexual assault lawsuits against the company. On Monday, Fox began their Super Bowl week by addressing the ongoing scandal, placing Executive Vice President of Content Charlie Dixon on administrative leave following two lawsuits filed last month accusing him of sexual misconduct.
This troubling situation isn’t new for the Fox Corporation under Rupert Murdoch’s leadership; the company has long faced lawsuits, allegations, and controversies regarding men in leadership abusing their power. In 2016, Fox News kingpin Roger Ailes was forced out after anchor Gretchen Carlson’s sexual harassment lawsuit. Other prominent Fox News stars, including Megyn Kelly and Alisyn Camerota, also shared their stories of Ailes’ predatory behavior. Additionally, notable figures like Bill O’Reilly, James Rosen, and Ed Henry were also dismissed following various scandals.
Dixon is not the first Fox Sports executive in a controversy. His former colleague Jamie Horowitz was fired in 2017 after an investigation into sexual harassment claims. The first lawsuit against Fox this year, from former hairstylist Noushin Faraji, alleges multiple transgressions by Dixon, former FS1 host Skip Bayless, and current host Joy Taylor, including claims that Dixon groped her and that Bayless offered her $1.5 million for sex. A second lawsuit filed by former FS1 anchor Julie Stewart-Binks alleges that Dixon sexually assaulted her in his hotel room, with her resistance leading to her contract not being renewed.
Such troubling allegations raise serious questions about the culture at Fox, especially given the infamous Dominion lawsuit, where Fox paid out $787 million after spreading falsehoods about the 2020 Presidential Election. One immediate question is why Fox chose to place Dixon on leave now, rather than at the onset of these allegations. Is it merely coincidental, or is there a more pervasive culture at the core of the company?
Super Bowl week should be an opportunity for FS1 to showcase its new lineup, which debuted last September to move on from the Skip Bayless Era. Programs like Breakfast Ball and The Facility have performed well, and Colin Cowherd is celebrating a new contract and a move to Chicago. Meanwhile, First Things First remains one of the best daytime sports shows on television. However, none of these new endeavors deserve to carry the weight of the scandal overshadowing their achievements. The questions remain: what headlines will Fox Sports generate amidst this turmoil, especially as all of FS1’s dirty laundry is aired out in the French Quarter during Super Bowl week?
Although Dixon is on leave, several talents are entangled in the allegations outlined in the original Faraji lawsuit. Despite the controversy, Speak host Joy Taylor will continue hosting her program in front of a live audience, while Emmanuel Acho, linked to Taylor, will do likewise with The Facility. This could lead to unpredictable scenes with audience members who know the details.
