Lawsuit accuses Hallmark Channel of not wanting to cast “older people” like Holly Robinson Peete and other stars

Hallmark Channel, widely known for romantic comedies and holiday movies, is in legal trouble. This week Diversity reports that the media company is the topic of a brand new age discrimination lawsuit.

The lawsuit filed against the studio alleged that Hallmark executive vp of programming Lisa Hamilton Daly told employees she didn’t want to cast “older people” because they didn’t fit her vision for the channel. Daly reportedly singled out stars similar to 60-year-old Holly Robinson Peete, giving examples of “old talent” that needed to be “replaced.”

“Nobody wants it because it’s too expensive and too old. He can no longer play leading roles,” the lawsuit quotes a Hallmark executive as saying, according to Variety.

Other stars also named within the lawsuit include Lacey Chabert, 42, and casting director Penny Perry. Perry, who filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Oct. 9, claims she was abruptly terminated after nine years with the corporate. The casting director claims she was fired because Daly was trying to find “young talent.”

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“We need to hire someone who knows more young talent,” the manager reportedly said within the lawsuit. “Our leading ladies are getting older.”

In September 2021, Daly joined Hallmark as executive vp of programming with experience working at other major networks similar to Netflix and A+E Networks. In the lawsuit, Perry claims Daly deemed her “too old to work in her position and maneuvered to push her out of the company,” allegedly moving her office to a distinct floor, excluding her from meetings and more.

In response to the allegations, Hallmark denied the lawsuit’s claims in an announcement Diversity AND Deadline.

“Lacey and Holly have a house on Hallmark. We generally do not comment on ongoing court proceedings. And while we deny these outrageous allegations, we will not discuss labor relations in the media.”