A new lawsuit alleges that Hallmark executive VP of programming Lisa Hamilton Daly told her staff she did not want to cast “old people” anymore, per a newly filed age discrimination lawsuit filed against the company.
The suit was filed by former casting director Penny Perry, 79, who was fired in April after nine years with the company. Perry claims that Hamilton Daly repeatedly said she was “too long in the tooth,” and was hoping to replace her with “new talent.”
“We need to bring in someone who knows more young talent,” the exec allegedly said, adding that the network’s leading stars were “aging out.”
The suit specifies that Hamilton Daly made comments about actresses Holly Robinson Peete, 60, and Lacey Chabert, 42. She allegedly called the women “old talent” who should be “replaced.” Both stars appeared in Christmas movies and shows on the Hallmark Channel.
“Lacey’s getting older and we have to find someone like her to replace her as she gets older,” Hamilton Daly allegedly said, per Variety.
“No one wants her because she’s too expensive and getting too old. She can’t play leading roles anymore,” she allegedly said of Robinson Peete.
Hallmark responded to the filing with a statement. “Lacey and Holly have a home at Hallmark. 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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Hamilton Daly was hired as Hallmark’s executive VP of programming in September 2021 after previously working at Netflix and A+E Networks, the outlet noted. Perry alleged in the lawsuit that Hamilton Daly thought she was “too old to work in her position” and that after coming on board at Hallmark, she “maneuvered to push her out of the company.”
Hallmark has been undergoing a shift in priorities following the exit of former CEO Bill Abbott in 2020 following backlash over a commercial featuring a same-sex couple that aired on the network. Abbott has since founded his own network, Great American Family, and taken many of the big-name stars with him, such as Candace Cameron Bure.
Hallmark Media CEO Wonya Lucas — who oversaw the company’s transition into embracing more LGBTQ-friendly storylines — stepped down from the role in 2023.
