[Craig Nigrelli]

RIGHT NOW AT THE HALLMARK CHANNEL – ITS ANNUAL COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS IS UNDERWAY – A TWO-MONTH CAMPAIGN OF ORIGINAL MOVIES TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

BUT ACCORDING TO A NEW LAWSUIT — THINGS ARE NOT ALL MERRY AND BRIGHT OVER AT HALLMARK.

IN THE SUIT FILED EARLIER THIS MONTH IN LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT – 79-YEAR-OLD PENNY PERRY – A FORMER CASTING DIRECTOR WITH THE NETWORK — CLAIMS SHE WAS FIRED AFTER NINE YEARS OF WORK – ALLEGING HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION.

THE LAWSUIT READS

“…‘Fans and families turn to the network’s seemingly endless offering of thematic TV movies to get into the spirit of the season, and because they know they’re in for a comfy, feel-good ending.’  In Ms. Perry’s case, there was no happy ending, and no feel-good episode to wrap up her career with Hallmark.  Instead, her finale episode was marred by ageist and ableist harassment, and a callous termination which robbed her of her illustrious career, her pride, and her well-being.

THE SUIT SAYS PERRY WAS LET GO BY HALLMARK EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMMING LISA HAMILTON DALY DURING WHAT SHE HAD BELIEVED TO BE A CASTING MEETING ON ZOOM LAST APRIL –

IN THE MEETING PERRY WAS ALLEGEDLY TOLD BY HAMILTON DALY THAT SHE WAS QUOTE “TOO ‘LONG IN THE TOOTH’ TO KEEP HER JOB.” AND OFFERED ANOTHER POSITION WITH MORE THAN A 50 PERCENT PAYCUT OR BE TERMINATED.

THE SUIT SAYS HAMILTON DALY HAD PREVIOUSLY TOLD PERRY THAT THE COMPANY NEEDS TO QUOTE “BRING IN SOMEONE (OTHER THAN YOU) WHO KNOWS MORE YOUNG TALENT.”

“NOT TO CAST OLD PEOPLE” IN ROLES

AND SAYING  “OUR LEADING LADIES ARE AGING OUT. WE NEED TO FIND NEW TALENT TO TAKE THEIR PLACE.”

THE SUIT SAYS HAMILTON DALY SINGLED OUT A FEW FAMOUS NAMES POPULAR IN HALLMARK MOVIES – HOLLY ROBINSON PEETE AND LACEY CHABERT.

OF 60-YEAR-OLD ROBINSON PEETE – HAMILTON DALY IS ACCUSED OF SAYING “No one wants her because she’s too expensive and getting too old. She can’t play leading roles anymore.”

AND OF 42-YEAR-OLD CHABERT – THE SUIT ALLEGES HAMILTON DALY SAID — “Lacy’s getting older and we have to find someone like her to replace her as she gets older.”

THE SUIT SAYS PERRY SUFFERS FROM SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS INCLUDING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND BEING LEGALLY BLIND IN ONE EYE — AND SHE HAD RECENTLY RETURNED TO WORK AFTER HAVING HEART SURGERY.  PERRY SAYS HALLMARK FAILED TO ACCOMMODATE HER.

ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT — WITHIN DAYS OF HER FIRING – HALLMARK HIRED A YOUNGER MALE EMPLOYEE TO FILL A ROLE IDENTICAL TO PERRY’S POSITION.

THE SUITS CLAIMS HAMILTON DALY HAD IT OUT FOR PERRY SINCE THE VP CAME OVER FROM NETFLIX IN SEPTEMBER 2021 AND WANTED TO MOVE PERRY “OUT OF THE COMPANY DUE TO HER AGE.”

ACCORDING TO THE SUIT – PERRY, WHOSE CREDITS INCLUDE MOVIES LIKE THE “YOUNG GUNS” AND “THE NEVER ENDING STORY” –  WAS MOVED TO THE PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT ON A  DIFFERENT FLOOR OF THE BUILDING AND TAKEN OFF PROJECTS INCLUDING THE NEW STREAMING SERIES CHICKEN SISTERS.

PERRY IS SEEKING A JURY TRIAL.

HALLMARK HAS REPLIED TO THE SUIT  IN A STATEMENT TO VARIETY SAYING “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.”

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI.

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