It looks not everybody gets a happy ending at Hallmark. Former Hallmark casting exec Penny Perry has filed a lawsuit accusing the company of age discrimination and wrongful termination. The lawsuit details conversations Perry reportedly had with Hallmark EVP of programming Hamilton Daly, who allegedly wanted to replace the network’s top stars such as Lacey Chabert and Holly Robinson-Peete with “younger talent.”

“Lacey’s getting older, and we have to find someone like her to replace her as she gets older,” Daly reportedly told Perry, according to Deadline.

At another point in the lawsuit, Daly is also quoted criticizing Robinson-Peete, allegedly saying, “No one wants her because she’s too expensive and getting too old. She can’t play leading roles anymore.”

The EVP also reportedly called Perry “too long in the tooth” and was hoping to “bring in someone who knows more younger talent.” The lawsuit quotes Daly as telling Perry not to cast “old people” in Hallmark roles, allegedly telling her, “Our leading ladies are aging out. We need to find new talent to take their place.”

The lawsuit’s allegations are particularly galling considering Chabert and Robinson-Peete are among the network’s biggest stars.

The Mean Girls actress, who is now 42, has starred in almost 40 movies on the Hallmark Channel, with more coming down the pipeline. Robinson-Peete, 60, has also starred in over a dozen holiday movies for the network, though her last role was in the 2022 feature Holiday Heritage.

Hallmark has released a statement denying the allegations raised by Perry in the lawsuit.

“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,” they said, per Deadline.

DECIDER reached out to Chabert and Robinson-Peete’s reps for comment.

Perry also accused Hallmark of forcing her out of her role, claiming Daly “had it out for her and wanted to move her out of the company due to her age.” The lawsuit additionally alleges the company was “refusing” to accommodate her health conditions, which include multiple sclerosis.

“In Ms. Perry’s case, there was no happy ending, and no feel-good episode to wrap up her career with Hallmark,” the complaint states. “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.”

Amidst these allegations, Chabert stars in one of dozens of programs the network has slated for this holiday season.

The Christmas Quest, premiering Dec. 1, stars Chabert as an archaeologist who searches for a missing treasure in Iceland with her ex-husband during the holidays.