*An age discrimination lawsuit against Hallmark claims that Lisa Hamilton Daly, the network’s executive VP of programming, refused to cast “old people” because they’re no longer a good fit for the channel.
According to Variety, the lawsuit cites Hamilton Daly’s shady comments regarding actors Holly Robinson Peete, 60, and Lacey Chabert, 42, as examples of “old talent” that should be “replaced.” Both actresses have appeared in numerous Hallmark movies and programming.
“Lacey’s getting older and we have to find someone like her to replace her as she gets older,” Hamilton Daly allegedly said.
The legal filing also alleges that she said “No one wants” Robinson Peet “because she’s too expensive and getting too old. She can’t play leading roles anymore,” the suit alleges, which was filed by Penny Perry, a 79-year-old casting director.
Perry claims she was fired in April after nine years with Hallmark. According to the complaint, Hamilton Daly repeatedly told Perry that she was “too long in the tooth.”
“We need to bring in someone who knows more young talent,” the executive said, according to the suit. “Our leading ladies are aging out.”
Hallmark replied in 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.”
Several fans of Holly and Lacy reacted to the lawsuit on social media, with one X user writing, “If Lisa Hamilton Daly is what @hallmarkchannel and @HallmarkPlus are becoming, then I will cancel my subscription. I have no time for this garbage.Holly Robinson Peete is an icon and Lacey Chabert is the Queen of Hallmark.”
Another person tweeted, “For a channel that normally spends half it’s day playing Murder She Wrote and The Golden Girls, they need to put some respect on talent of all ages.I love the channel’s current talent, don’t mess with it.”
A third person posted a photo of Hamilton Daly and noted, “The audacity of Lisa Hamilton Daly being ageist against these talented mature women, when she herself is far from being a young chickadee.”
The audacity of Lisa Hamilton Daly being ageist against these talented mature women, when she herself is far from being a young chickadee. pic.twitter.com/9Qdn7ewjg2
— ettypay itchbay (@SlumBeautifuI) October 24, 2024
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Holly Robinson Peete & Rodney Peete On Being Dating Mentors for Peacock’s ‘Queen’s Court’ | WATCH
