“I’ve been through a lot of sh*t”: Joy Taylor breaks silence on FS1 exit, sexual misconduct lawsuit and wild Instagram DMs

Joy Taylor didn’t hold back during her appearance on Cam Newton’s “Funky Friday” podcast on August 23. The former FS1 host gave fans an unfiltered look into her personal and professional life, from boundaries around dating to the toll of a difficult year.

Her honest and raw commentary instantly caught attention across social media and NFL circles.

Joy Taylor says she’s done with public relationships and reveals crazy Instagram DMs

During the wide-ranging interview, Taylor shared why she avoids speaking publicly about her personal relationships. After experiencing the downsides of being open in the past, she now keeps that part of her life off the internet. “I don’t want to be in a public relationship. So, I would not speak on a relationship if I was in one.

I’ve done it before. It’s not a good experience for me.”She also gave a glimpse into her Instagram DMs, which often contain inappropriate messages from strangers. "I was showing Kenny some DMs… ‘Can I hit?’ is not going to get it done." What shocks Taylor most is the blind trust some people have when messaging her privately, without thinking of the consequences. “Why do you trust that I won’t post these? Isn’t that crazy?”

Joy Taylor talks about being named in sexual misconduct lawsuit and her FS1 exit

Taylor also spoke frankly about the professional challenges she faced this year, including being named in a sexual misconduct lawsuit and her exit from FS1.

While not accused of wrongdoing, the situation deeply affected her and triggered a period of emotional stress. "I’m much better now than I was obviously at the beginning of the year," Taylor said. "It’s been a unique experience for me in my life. I’ve been through a lot of sh*t, but this one was different.

"She described 2025 as a year of transition, personal growth, and emotional self-protection.“It’s been a very, very tough year for me personally. It’s also been a learning year, a shedding year, a year where I learned to protect myself emotionally and pay attention to different energies when they enter my space.”

Joy Taylor reflects on her career and how she kept moving forward

Despite the turbulence, Taylor remains proud of what she accomplished at FS1. She noted that her biggest goal was always to be heard equally among male co-hosts — and she feels she achieved that at the highest level. “My goal was to do a daily opinion show where my voice mattered as much as the men at the table. And I was able to do that at the highest level, at the network level.”Also read: “Just keep it in ya pants brother”: Fans roast Tyreek Hill over $500K divorce payout and $50K monthly support to Keeta VaccaroTo stay balanced during the chaos, she leaned on close friends, therapy, and a new workout routine.