How Lacey Chabert & Holly Robinson Peete Got Dragged Into Hallmark Age Discrimination Lawsuit

It is the most wonderful time of the year for the Hallmark Channel after their Countdown to Christmas programming began on Oct. 18, but there’s at least one former employee who is alleging that things weren’t so jolly behind the scenes. An age discrimination lawsuit alleges that the network’s Vice President of Programming Lisa Hamilton Daly took issues with some of their biggest stars. 

Penny Perry, a 79-year-old casting director worked for Hallmark for nine years until she was fired in April, is suing the network. In her complaint, she noted that Hamilton Daly made alleged ageist remarks that singled out Lacey Chabert, 42, and Holly Robinson Peete, 60. “Lacey’s getting older, and we have to find someone like her to replace her as she gets older,” Perry claimed the studio executive said in her suit. It doesn’t get much better with Robinson Peete either. 

“No one wants her because she’s too expensive and getting too old. She can’t play leading roles anymore,” the suit alleged Hamilton Daly said. Perry was also reportedly on the receiving end of ageist comments as a casting director. “We need to bring in someone who knows more young talent,” the executive is alleged to have said to Perry. “Our leading ladies are aging out.”

Hallmark issued a statement to Variety, giving praise to both Chabert and Robinson Peete. “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,” the network said. 

Chabert currently has the unscripted show, Celebrations, running on Hallmark+, and the upcoming holiday film, The Christmas Quest. She praised the network in 2022 to Vulture, “I found a real home in Hallmark. I’m able to be more of who I am here than possibly anywhere else I’ve worked. With Hallmark, I play characters that are more like who I am in real life than anywhere else. My values are my faith and my family, and I get to portray that.”

Robinson Peete does not appear to have a new movie slated for the channel this year. Holiday Heritage was her last movie for the network in 2022. Neither of the actresses has commented publicly on the allegations made in the lawsuit.

Before you go, click here to see all the celebrity women who have spoken out about ageism.