A former head of Hallmark Channel gifted the network a fa-la-la-la lawsuit after the studio didn’t make him feel so pleased.
A top executive at the Cheerful Channel has been accused of trying to replace holiday stars Holly Robinson Peete, 60, and Lacey Chabert, 42, because they no longer wanted to include “old people” in programs on the channel. , according to a New Age discrimination lawsuit.
The entertainment powerhouse is accused of discriminating against aging employees both on and off camera in a lawsuit brought by 79-year-old casting director Penny Perry, who filed her complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court on October 9.
Actresses like Peet and Chabert have starred in several Hallmark films, but the lawsuit claims that Lisa Hamilton Daly, who is executive vice president of programming at Hallmark, wanted to cut them out of the festival’s films and replace them with younger stars. Wanted to bring.
“Lacey is growing up and we have to find someone like her who can take her place as she gets older,” Daly reportedly said of the “Mean Girls” actress. Who appeared in some of the channel’s popular productions such as “The Wedding Veil” collection and “A”. Royal Christmas.”
The lawsuit alleges Daly also insulted “21 Jump Street” star Pete, who appeared in nearly a dozen holiday films.
“Nobody wants her because she’s too expensive and getting too old. She can no longer play major roles,” Daly is accused of saying.
The lawsuit claims that Daly is also reportedly looking for replacements for Elizabeth Mitchell, Catherine Bell, Alison Sweeney, Autumn Reeser, Kelly Martin, Nikki DeLoach, Rachel Boston, Brennan Elliott, Cameron Mathison, Paul Green, Eric Close and Teri Hatcher. Wanted.
Former casting director Perry has over 450 casting credits and worked for Hallmark for nine years, but filed a lawsuit after she claimed she was fired without consideration because she was too old and executives were “someone Wanted to find someone who knows more young talents.”
The fired casting boss, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and is legally blind in one eye, failed to feel a happy ending at Hallmark after she was fired just weeks after returning from heart surgery, according to court documents. Was given.
Perry’s lawsuit also calls out Randy Pope, senior vice president of programming and development at Hallmark, for allegedly “regularly harassing” her and Paul Hodgkinson, vice president of human resources, for participating in her “wrongful termination.”
Hallmark denied the allegations in the complaint and hit back in a statement.
“Lacey and Holly have a house in Hallmark. We generally do not comment on pending litigation. And while we deny these outrageous allegations, we are not going to discuss the employment relationship in the media.” According to a statement from Hallmark Received by Variety.
Hallmark is premiering 32 brand new Christmas movies this year, According to the taste of home. Perry is not listed on the casting team for any upcoming holiday films, but he is credited as casting director for four non-holiday Hallmark films released in 2024.
