Hallmark Wanted to Fire “Old” Talent Like Lacey Chabert, Lawsuit Says

In a new lawsuit filed against Hallmark Media, a former casting director accused it of wanting to terminate talent like Lacey Chabert and Holly Robinson Peete for “getting too old.”

By Brahmjot Kaur Oct 24, 2024 8:54 PMTags

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Hallmark Media is facing legal trouble.

A former casting director for the company filed a lawsuit against the organization and Executive VP of Programming Lisa Hamilton Daly Oct. 9, accusing them of age discrimination, wrongful termination and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other complaints, according to documents obtained by E! News.

Penny Perry, 79, who alleged she was abruptly terminated in April after nine years due to her age, accused Hamilton Daly of not wanting to cast actresses they considered “old people” in Hallmark roles, including the network alum  Holly Robinson Peete and Lacey Chabert.

“Ms. Hamilton Daly constantly made reference to age and cited age as a negative attribute which did not fit with her image of Hallmark,” she said in the lawsuit. “Ms. Hamilton Daly also told Ms. Perry that they needed to ‘replace’ the ‘old talent.'”

Regarding Peete, 60, who has appeared in Hallmark films like Holiday Heritage and Our Christmas Journey, Perry said that Hamilton Daly told her, “No one wants her because she’s too expensive and getting too old. She can’t play leading roles anymore.”

And of Chabert, 42, who has fronted more than 30 Hallmark movies over the years, she alleged Hamilton Daly told her, “Lacy’s getting older and we have to find someone like her to replace her as she gets older.” 

“Our leading ladies are aging out,” the filing alleged the executive told Perry. “We need to find new talent to take their place.”

As for Perry, she said that Hamilton Daly told her she was too “long in the tooth,” meaning she was getting too old to keep her position at Hallmark. The former employee also believes she was terminated because of her age and because the company wanted someone “who knows more young talent.”

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images/Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

E! News has reached out to reps for Peete and Chabert and has not yet heard back. Hamilton Daly declined E! News’ request for comment.

Hallmark, however, vehemently denied the allegations.

“Lacey and Holly have a home at Hallmark,” the company said in a statement to E! News. “We do not generally comment on pending litigation. And while we deny these outrageous allegations, we are not going to discuss an employment relationship in the media.”

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