### Hallmark Casts Doubt on Age Discrimination Lawsuit from Longtime Casting Director

Hallmark has recently come forward to deny claims from a lawsuit filed by Penny Perry, a 79-year-old casting director who alleges she was unjustly terminated in April. Perry, who dedicated nine years to the company, asserts that her dismissal was driven by age discrimination.

As reported by Variety, Perry's lawsuit centers on accusations against Hallmark’s executive VP of programming, Lisa Hamilton Daly. The allegations suggest that Daly expressed a desire to phase out "old people" from casting roles. Specifically, Hallmark veterans such as Holly Robinson Peete and Lacey Chabert were purportedly labeled as "old talent" needing replacement. Daly reportedly remarked about Chabert, "Lacey's getting older and we have to find someone like her to replace her as she gets older," targeting the 42-year-old actress directly. Additionally, Robinson Peete, aged 60, was allegedly criticized for being "too expensive and getting too old," with Daly asserting that she could no longer perform leading roles.

In response to these serious accusations, Hallmark issued a statement emphasizing the continued standing of both Chabert and Robinson Peete within the company. "Lacey and Holly have a home at Hallmark," the statement read. "We deny these outrageous allegations, but we are not going to discuss an employment relationship in the media." TVLine has sought comments from representatives of both actresses.

Perry's lawsuit also highlights personal age-related discrimination, recounting an incident where Daly allegedly told Perry she was "too long in the tooth" and required replacement. The suit further claims that amid her battle with multiple sclerosis and legal blindness in one eye, Hallmark failed to provide necessary accommodations for Perry’s disabilities. She contends the company made her working conditions intolerable by relocating her office to a different floor, excluding her from meetings, and transferring her responsibilities to an outside consultant. Following her termination, Perry alleges she was replaced by a younger male.

As the case unfolds, Hallmark continues to refute the claims, urging the public to withhold judgment until all facts are presented.