If you spend any amount of time watching the Hallmark Channel, you are likely going to see a Christmas movie. They are known for some of the feel-good movies that the world needs these days, but that doesn’t mean that everything is all smiles and rainbows behind the scenes.
The movies that Hallmark puts out often follow a similar storyline to each other. Perhaps it has to do with a woman who is traveling to meet someone, and it doesn’t turn out the way that she plans but there is someone waiting there to sweep her off her feet.
It’s the turn of events in many of these movies that makes it what keeps us tuning in over and over again. In addition, we get used to seeing the same actors in the movies.
Holly Robinson Pete and Lacey Chabert are two of those actresses who have played in The Hallmark Christmas Movies many times. They are familiar faces to us, but it seems as if they are on their way out.
This was discovered because of a lawsuit that was filed, and it seems as if these two actresses are too old for the network. Pete is 62 years old and for the past decade, has been featured in many Hallmark movies. Chabert has made 40 movies for the network and is 42 years old.
According to a report about the upcoming lawsuit, Hallmark told former casting director Penny Perry that Pete and Chabert were ‘aging out.’ They went on to say that the director needed to find ‘new talent to take their place.’ And they didn’t want her to cast ‘old people.’
In the lawsuit, it was discussed that Perry was working for Hallmark as a casting director starting in 2015. She was promoted to SVP of Talent and Casting in 2019.
Perry returned to work in 2024 at the age of 79 after heart surgery. She said that she was pushed out of the company, being told: “We need to bring in someone (other than you) who knows more young talent.”
The claim is that she was offered a pay cut and a cut in benefits and given 48 hours to make her decision. Hallmark is claiming that she quit after turning down another job offer at the network.
Lisa Sherman and Josh Schein, Perry’s attorneys send a statement, saying: “Penny Perry is courageous in seeking justice from her former employer. She is also grateful for the outpouring of support she has received. Unfortunately, Hallmark treated a venerable Hollywood veteran this way and we hope this action will lead to change in Hollywood and all work environments. Places of employment should be free of discrimination, fear, and harassment, providing and ensuring that all people are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.”
On the other, Hallmark Media representatives are saying that Pete and Chabert still ‘have a home’ with the network. Their statement continues: “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.”
You can learn more in this video
