Joy Taylor departed from “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd in September 2022. The departure marked the end of her co-hosting role on the show, with Colin Cowherd bidding her farewell and expressing good wishes for her future endeavors. Joy Taylor moved from “The Herd” to Speak on FS1. Her farewell was a heartfelt moment between her and Colin Cowherd, as they reminisced about their time working together.
Joy Taylor’s Early Career
Joy Taylor began her professional journey as a radio host and producer in her hometown of Miami, Florida. She earned a degree in broadcast communications from Barry University in 2009. She was employed by multiple radio stations, such as 790 AM The Ticket and 560 WQAM, where she presented her show, The Noise.
In 2016, she got engaged to Earl Watson, a former NBA player and coach. Watson was the head coach of the Phoenix Suns at the time, but he was fired in October 2017 after a poor start to the season. Taylor and Watson split up in November 2018, ending their two-year engagement.
In September 2016, Taylor joined FS1 as the moderator of Skip and Shannon: Undisputed, a debate show featuring Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe. She impressed the network executives with her knowledge, charisma, and professionalism. In June 2018, she was promoted to co-host The Herd with Colin Cowherd, one of the most popular sports talk shows on FS1.
Taylor’s Departure from The Herd
On February 14, 2024, Taylor announced on her podcast, Speak, that she was leaving The Herd with Colin Cowherd after three years. She thanked Cowherd, the producers, and the fans for their support and said she had a great time working on the show. She also said she was excited about a new opportunity but did not disclose any details about it.
Her announcement came as a surprise to many, as she had a good chemistry with Cowherd and seemed to enjoy her role on the show. She also had a loyal fan base, who praised her for her insights, opinions, and personality. Her departure left a big void in The Herd, which had to find a new co-host to replace her.
The sports media world reacted to Taylor’s news with shock and curiosity. Many journalists, analysts, and personalities expressed their admiration and appreciation for Taylor and wished her well in her future endeavors. Some also speculated about the reason for her exit and where she was going next.
Speculations on the Reason for Taylor’s Departure
Neither Taylor nor FS1 gave an official statement on why she left The Herd with Colin Cowherd. This led to a lot of rumors and guesses among the fans and the media. Some of the possible explanations are:
- Taylor had a conflict with Cowherd or someone else on the show. Some people suggested that Taylor and Cowherd did not get along well behind the scenes, or that Taylor felt overshadowed or disrespected by Cowherd. Others pointed out that Taylor disagreed with Jason Whitlock, another FS1 personality, who criticized her for defending LeBron James in a tweet.
- Taylor wanted a bigger role or more money. Some people speculated that Taylor was unhappy with her position or salary on The Herd and that she wanted to have more creative control or influence on the show. Others suggested that Taylor was offered a better deal or a more prominent role by another network or platform, such as ESPN, Barstool Sports, or Spotify.
- Taylor wanted a change of scenery or a new challenge. Some people assumed that Taylor was bored or tired of working on The Herd and that she wanted to try something different or more exciting. Others guessed that Taylor had a personal reason or a family issue that made her want to leave the show or move to another city.
