Hallmark Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Age Discrimination Against Stars Lacey Chabert and Holly Robinson Peete
Holly Robinson PeeteHallmark Media is embroiled in a legal battle following allegations of age discrimination that have surfaced against the company. The controversy arose after Penny Perry, a former casting director for Hallmark, filed a lawsuit accusing the network of engaging in ageist practices and wrongful termination.
According to the court documents, Perry, aged 79, claimed that executives at Hallmark, including Executive Vice President of Programming Lisa Hamilton Daly, expressed an intent to replace prominent stars such as Lacey Chabert, aged 42, and Holly Robinson Peete, aged 60. Perry alleged that she was dismissed from her position under the pretext that she was too "long in the tooth" and was told that the network needed to focus on younger talent.
Perry detailed in her lawsuit that Hamilton Daly specifically mentioned the need to refresh Hallmark's lineup of leading ladies, implying that established figures like Chabert and Peete were no longer relevant due to their age. In her account, Perry recounted comments suggesting that Chabert and Peete were seen as too expensive and no longer suitable for leading roles.
The lawsuit, filed earlier this month, accuses Hallmark of discrimination and seeks compensation for the alleged "ageist and ableist harassment" Perry endured. In response to the allegations, a Hallmark Media representative stated that while the company denies these allegations, it values its relationship with both Chabert and Peete, reaffirming their ongoing collaboration with the network.
Both actresses have been notable figures in Hallmark's holiday programming, with Chabert actively involved as a producer and star in several projects. Despite the legal allegations, Hallmark maintains that both actresses have a secure home within the network, continuing to appear in and produce various Hallmark projects and films.
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