Why Did Skip Bayless Leave 'Undisputed'? The Show May Be Ending
While no one is saying for sure, tanking viewership of less than 100,000 may be behind the move to axe Skip and the program on Fox Sports.
![Melissa Willets - Author](https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/NwBE0OfeR/200x200/melissa-willets-writer-1668542968320.jpg)
Published July 16 2024, 10:22 a.m. ET
![Skip Bayless attends the Paley Prize Gala honoring ESPN's 35th anniversary presented by Roc Nation Sports on May 28, 2014 in New York City](https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/4US0COyMH/480x251/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1721136961055.jpg 480w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/4US0COyMH/640x335/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1721136961055.jpg 640w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/4US0COyMH/768x402/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1721136961055.jpg 768w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/4US0COyMH/1024x536/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1721136961055.jpg 1024w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/4US0COyMH/1280x670/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1721136961055.jpg 1280w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/4US0COyMH/1440x753/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1721136961055.jpg 1440w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/4US0COyMH/1600x837/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1721136961055.jpg 1600w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/4US0COyMH/2160x1130/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1721136961055.jpg 2160w)
Controversial commentator Skip Bayless is parting ways with Fox Sports' Undisputed after eight years on the show. His departure comes just a year after Skip's longtime co-host Shannon Sharpe left Undisputed following reported beef with Skip.
So, why is Skip bidding adieu to the headline-making program? Here's what we know about why Skip Bayless is leaving Undisputed as of the summer of 2024.
![Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe attends the 2016 IAVA Heroes Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 10, 2016 in New York City](https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/zL8fXN-7M/480x252/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1-1721137060483.jpg 480w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/zL8fXN-7M/640x335/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1-1721137060483.jpg 640w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/zL8fXN-7M/768x402/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1-1721137060483.jpg 768w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/zL8fXN-7M/1024x536/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1-1721137060483.jpg 1024w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/zL8fXN-7M/1280x670/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1-1721137060483.jpg 1280w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/zL8fXN-7M/1440x754/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1-1721137060483.jpg 1440w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/zL8fXN-7M/1600x838/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1-1721137060483.jpg 1600w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/zL8fXN-7M/2160x1131/why-did-skip-bayless-leave-undisputed-1-1721137060483.jpg 2160w)
So, why did Skip Bayless leave 'Undisputed'? It may not have been up to him.
According to The New York Times, Skip and Undisputed are parting ways — and there is chatter that the show will be retired, although those reports are not yet confirmed per the outlet.
Skip's final broadcast will air at the end of the summer, according to the New York Post.
While no one is saying for sure, tanking viewership of less than 100,000 may be behind the move to axe Skip and even the program on Fox Sports.
But the decision comes as a surprise after that the host reportedly signed a $32 million deal with the network in 2021. His contract is reportedly ending in late 2024, per Essentially Sports and negotiations to renew may have fallen apart.
Of course, as fans will recall, Skip's foil Shannon left Undisputed in 2023 following a bitter feud with his older colleague. Although this wasn't the first time the two stars butted heads, this time, Shannon was furious after Skip tweeted his hot take about Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin's on-field cardiac arrest.
Within months of Skip's outspoken reaction to the NFL suspending the game, Shannon was gone, just after the 2023 NBA playoffs. And now, the former host of ESPN show First Take, is also bowing out.
Fans have some definite thoughts about Skip Bayless leaving 'Undisputed.'
While Skip didn't immediately have a comment one way or the other (and nor had Fox Sports), fans were quick to react. "Skip Bayless couldn’t last a year without Shannon Sharpe," one X user said.
Other fans brought up the well-documented, long standing feud between Skip and LeBron James.
In fact, Skip has been hailed as the No. 1 LeBron hater for many years.
With fans putting words in his mouth — seemingly all in good fun of course — LeBron has seemingly taken the high road and is not commenting on Skip's reported departure from Undisputed.
What's next for Skip Bayless after leaving 'Undisputed'?
Per Sports Illustrated, it is not yet known what Skip plans to do following his departure from his Fox News post.
Whatever his future plans, one thing is likely certain: Skip is bound to create divisiveness.
We'll be watching to see where he lands, be it on another show, a podcast, or perhaps, behind a tell-all book about his true feelings about everything that has gone down in his career — not that Skip has ever been one to bite his tongue!