Fox Sports finds itself at the center of another controversy as former host Julie Stewart-Binks has filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Charlie Dixon, the executive vice president of content. This is the second such lawsuit against Dixon within a month, further intensifying scrutiny on the network’s handling of misconduct allegations.
Details of the Alleged Assault
According to the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Stewart-Binks claims that Dixon sexually assaulted her in January 2016 during a meeting to discuss her assignment for Super Bowl 50. The incident allegedly took place after Dixon invited her to his hotel room, where he forcibly kissed her and pinned her against a wall. The filing details how Dixon held her arms down and attempted to force his tongue into her mouth.
Prior to the assault, Stewart-Binks says Dixon degraded her during the meeting at a hotel bar, telling her she was “not funny, interesting or talented” and criticizing her ability to handle high-profile television assignments. He reportedly made further inappropriate comments, saying she was “not hot enough to be a hot girl on TV.”
Stewart-Binks reported the incident to Fox’s human resources department, but the lawsuit alleges that the company chose to protect Dixon and allow him to remain in his position for nearly a decade despite her complaint.
Dixon Named in Another Sexual Misconduct Lawsuit
Dixon is also a defendant in a separate lawsuit filed earlier this month by former hairstylist Noushin Faraji. Faraji claims that Dixon groped her buttocks in January 2017. The lawsuit involving Faraji also names well-known former host Skip Bayless and current host Joy Taylor, accusing Fox Sports of sexual battery, negligent supervision, and wrongful termination.
julie Stewart-Binks’ Career and Fallout from the Incident
Stewart-Binks worked at FS1 from 2013 to 2016 and built her career as a respected sports journalist. Since leaving Fox Sports, she has worked with SportsNet New York, the Professional Women’s Hockey League, and hosts a podcast. However, she claims the trauma of the incident, combined with seeing former Fox colleagues achieve success on the national stage, left her frustrated and hindered her career progress.
The lawsuit states, “Each time she saw a former colleague from Fox thriving on the national stage while she remained covering smaller markets, a pang of frustration lingered.”
Ongoing Investigation and Broader Implications
Fox Sports has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the latest lawsuit, but the allegations against Dixon highlight the growing list of sexual misconduct claims within the sports media industry. The lawsuit calls into question the network’s response to such complaints, with Stewart-Binks accusing the company of deliberately ignoring serious allegations to protect its executives.
As investigations continue, many will be watching how Fox Sports addresses the lawsuit and whether it will lead to any internal changes in handling harassment claims.
Julie Stewart-Binks’ lawsuit against Charlie Dixon is a stark reminder of the ongoing problem of workplace harassment in the media industry. Her claims of assault, verbal degradation, and Fox’s alleged failure to act expose the lingering challenges of ensuring accountability and safe work environments. As the legal battle unfolds, it could potentially reshape how media organizations handle misconduct allegations and prevent future incidents.
