If you’ve ever scrolled through sports Twitter or caught a clip of Speak on FS1, you know Joy Taylor. She’s sharp, she’s unapologetic, and she’s one of the few women who can hold her own in a room full of shouting ex-NFL players. But for all the time she spends under the bright lights of Los Angeles studios, Joy has kept a pretty tight lid on her personal life. Well, mostly.
When you're that famous, people get curious. Specifically, people want to know: who is Joy Taylor's ex husband?
It wasn’t just a casual dating situation. It was a full-blown, elegant Miami wedding that seemed like a fairy tale until, quite suddenly, it wasn’t. The man behind that chapter is Richard Giannotti. And honestly, his story is almost as interesting as hers, though he trades the TV cameras for the high-stakes world of athlete finance these days.
Richard Giannotti: The Man Behind the Marriage
Richard Giannotti isn't some random guy Joy met at a bar. He was a high-level athlete himself. Before he became known as Joy Taylor’s ex husband, Giannotti spent about eight years grinding it out in professional baseball. He played as an outfielder, mostly in the minor leagues and independent circuits, after a standout career at the University of Miami.
He was a "U" guy through and through.
After the cleats were hung up in 2012, Richard didn't just fade away. He pivoted. Hard. He used his business administration degree to launch Athlete Asset Management under Global Wealth Management. Basically, he helps young, rich athletes not go broke. It’s a smart niche. He knows the locker room culture, and he knows the bank account pitfalls.
The Whirlwind Romance and the Miami Wedding
Joy and Richard reportedly met back in 2014. At the time, Joy was still making a massive name for herself in the Miami radio scene co-hosting the Zaslow and Joy Show. They were the ultimate Miami power couple—the rising media star and the former Hurricanes baseball hero.
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They got engaged in 2015.
On February 13, 2016, they tied the knot at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. If you've ever seen pictures of that place, you know it’s the definition of "extra." It was a stunning ceremony. But the marriage was surprisingly short-lived. By 2017, the papers were filed, and the two had officially gone their separate ways.
Why the Marriage Fell Apart
This is where things get messy. Joy Taylor has always been professional, but being a public figure means your "private" business eventually leaks into court documents or tabloid headlines. For a long time, fans just assumed they "grew apart." That’s the standard PR line, right?
Not quite.
In recent years, some pretty heavy allegations surfaced via a lawsuit filed by a former FS1 hairstylist, Noushin Faraji. Now, we have to be careful here because these are allegations from a legal filing, not necessarily a confession from Joy herself. But the lawsuit claimed that the marriage crumbled because Richard Giannotti allegedly discovered evidence of infidelity.
The filing suggested that Joy was involved with Fox Sports executive Charlie Dixon.
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Even more scandalous? The lawsuit alleged that Giannotti’s suspicions peaked during a dinner where both couples—Joy and Richard, and Charlie and his wife—were present. Talk about an awkward appetizer. Shortly after that dinner, the divorce was set in motion. There were also rumors floating around about Joy and her former colleague Emmanuel Acho, though Joy has never publicly confirmed these specific reasons for her split from Richard.
Life After the Divorce: Where Are They Now?
Honestly, Richard Giannotti seems to have won the "breakup" in terms of stability. While Joy’s career continued to skyrocket—moving from Undisputed to The Herd and eventually her own show—Richard focused on building a family.
In 2020, Richard married Kristen Simigran.
They seem incredibly happy. They have two sons now, Banks and Baker. If you look at Richard’s social media today, it’s all about being a "boy dad" and managing millions for athletes. He’s successfully transitioned from "the guy married to Joy Taylor" to a respected executive in his own right.
The Earl Watson Chapter
You can't talk about Joy's ex-husband without mentioning the man she almost married next. Shortly after the divorce from Richard was finalized, Joy started dating former NBA player and coach Earl Watson.
They got engaged in September 2018.
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The ring was massive. The Instagram posts were constant. People thought this was "the one." But by November 2019, it was over. No wedding, no explanation, just a deleted history on social media. Some reports (and that same FS1 lawsuit) hint that Watson also walked away after learning about the same alleged workplace entanglements that ended her first marriage.
The Reality of Joy Taylor's Single Life in 2026
As of early 2026, Joy Taylor is reportedly single. She has been very vocal on her podcast, Two Personal, about the difficulties of dating as a high-powered, successful woman. She’s spoken about the "tax" women pay in the industry and how hard it is to find someone who isn't intimidated by her paycheck or her platform.
She’s also a survivor.
Back in 2017, Joy bravely shared on Undisputed that she is a survivor of domestic abuse from a past relationship (not Richard). This context is important because it shows that beneath the "cool girl" sports persona is a woman who has navigated some serious trauma. It explains why she might be more guarded about her heart these days.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume Joy Taylor's ex husband was a casualty of her fame. The "she got too big for him" narrative is easy to sell. But Richard Giannotti wasn't exactly a small-timer. He was wealthy and successful before he met her. The split seems less about career trajectories and more about the complicated, often toxic crossover between professional networking and personal boundaries in the TV world.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you’re following Joy Taylor’s journey or navigating your own high-profile career while trying to maintain a relationship, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Vetting Matters: In the world of high-stakes sports and media, your "circle" is everything. Richard Giannotti's move into asset management was a way to stay in the game without the drama of the spotlight.
- Privacy is a Choice: Joy has transitioned into a phase where she shares her opinions but protects her peace. If you're looking for her current boyfriend, you won't find him on her feed.
- Legal Clouds Linger: Public figures often have their private lives litigated in the public eye through third-party lawsuits. Always look for the source of the "tea" before believing it.
Joy Taylor has moved on. Richard Giannotti has moved on. While fans might still search for the details of their 2016 wedding, both have clearly turned the page to much different chapters. Joy is currently navigating a career "reset" after her long stint at Fox Sports, while Richard is busy raising the next generation of Giannottis. Sometimes, a short marriage is just a detour on the way to where you're actually supposed to be.
To stay updated on the latest moves in Joy's career, keep an eye on her solo digital ventures, as she's shifted her focus away from traditional network TV toward building her own independent brand.