A major shakeup at Fox Sports has resulted in the termination of prominent sports media personality Joy Taylor, following months of controversy surrounding a sexual misconduct lawsuit.
According to Daily Mail, Taylor's departure comes as part of a larger restructuring that will see the cancellation of three shows, including "Speak," which she co-hosted with former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson and NBA legend Paul Pierce. The network's decision arrives just months after Taylor faced serious allegations in a lawsuit filed by a former employee.
The 38-year-old media personality had been with Fox Sports for nearly a decade before this dramatic exit. Her contract, which was up for renewal this year, will not be extended by the network, effectively ending her tenure at Fox Sports.
The lawsuit that preceded Taylor's departure contained explosive allegations about her professional conduct at the network. A former makeup artist, Noushin Faraji, claimed Taylor had used sexual relationships with colleagues to advance her career.
The legal filing also alleged that Taylor dismissed Faraji's concerns about sexual assault claims against a top programming executive. These serious accusations created a cloud of controversy around Taylor's position at the network.
The timing of Taylor's exit appears closely linked to these unresolved allegations, though Fox Sports has not explicitly connected the two events. The network's decision comes as part of a larger restructuring effort affecting multiple shows.
In recent weeks, Taylor addressed the impact of the lawsuit on her personal life. She described experiencing "dark times" and dealing with significant trauma during this period.
Taylor revealed she relied heavily on support from family, friends, and mentors during the challenging period. She emphasized the importance of staying true to herself despite the public scrutiny.
The sports media personality continued to maintain her on-air presence throughout the controversy, hosting both "Speak" and her podcast "Two Personal." She described this decision as an intentional choice to remain visible despite the circumstances.
The cancellation of "Speak" is part of a broader programming shift at Fox Sports. The network is also ending two morning shows, "Breakfast Ball" and "The Facility."
Fox Sports will maintain its flagship programs, including "The Herd" with Colin Cowherd and "First Things First" with Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes. The network is expected to develop new programming to fill the gaps left by the cancelled shows.
These changes reflect ongoing efforts by Fox Sports to optimize its programming lineup and boost viewership numbers, as reports indicate the cancelled shows struggled to attract substantial audiences.
Joy Taylor's departure marks the end of a significant era at Fox Sports, where she had become one of the network's most recognizable faces. The controversy surrounding her exit has created ripples throughout the sports media landscape.
The network faces the challenge of rebuilding its programming schedule while managing the public relations impact of Taylor's departure. This transition period will likely lead to new opportunities for emerging talent at Fox Sports.
The situation continues to evolve as both Taylor and Fox Sports move forward in different directions, with the full impact of these changes yet to be fully realized in the sports media landscape.
