Joy Taylor is out at Fox Sports as part of a series of moves that will also see the network’s cable arm, FS1, cancel “Speak,” the show Taylor co-hosts, as well as its two morning programs, sources briefed on the decisions told The Athletic.
The three shows struggled to find a huge audience, prompting the cancellations, according to sources briefed on the decision.
Taylor, 38, has been in headlines over the past year as FS1 has been embroiled in harassment allegations against its former top programming executive, Charlie Dixon. In one of the two lawsuits, Noushin Faraji, a make-up artist, accused Dixon of sexual battery, and the suit alleged that Taylor told Faraji “to get over it.” Taylor denied the allegation. Dixon has been out at the network since late April.
Taylor co-hosted “Speak” with Keyshawn Johnson and Paul Pierce. Taylor’s contract was up and not renewed by Fox Sports after she had been with the network for nearly a decade.
FS1 is also ending the morning shows “Breakfast Ball” and “The Facility.” Fox Sports declined to comment.
Colin Cowherd’s “The Herd,” which begins at noon (ET), and “First Things First” with Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Kevin Wildes at 3 p.m. (ET), will continue in their time slots. FS1 will likely produce new shows in place of the cancellations.
All three shows were created under Dixon. “Breakfast Ball” featured Craig Carton, Mark Schlereth and Danny Parkins. It marked Carton’s second show at the network after leaving his WFAN drive time program two years ago.
A return to WFAN is not out of the question for Carton, though. WFAN has continued its dominance in the market with Tiki Barber joining Carton’s former partner, Evan Roberts, on afternoon drives. Chris Oliviero, who brought Carton back to WFAN after Carton served a prison sentence for fraud, is the chief business officer of the station’s parent company, Audacy, and oversees WFAN.
“The Facility” is hosted by Emmanuel Acho, Chase Daniel, James Jones and LeSean McCoy and began less than a year ago. All four are former NFL players.
(Photo of Joy Taylor: Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images)
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