For nearly 20 years, Holly Hallstrom was a beloved part of American daytime television as one of the famous “Barker’s Beauties” on The Price Is Right. Today, Hallstrom is speaking out about what she describes as years of legal intimidation and retaliatory actions that she says took place backstage under the leadership of the late Bob Barker.
A Legal Fight to Silence Her
In a recent interview following the release of E!’s Dirty Rotten Scandals docuseries, Hallstrom shared the details of a decade-long legal battle she faced after she refused to provide false testimony in a se**al harassment case involving Barker. She believes this battle was an effort to silence her and prevent her from speaking out about the mistreatment she faced.
The Deposition That Sparked the Lawsuit
Hallstrom says her exit from the show was not performance-related but was triggered by legal issues. Following a se**al harassment lawsuit filed by fellow model Dian Parkinson against Barker, Hallstrom claims the environment at The Price Is Right turned into a high-pressure legal operation, where she was pressured to testify against Parkinson.
“Every time you went to the studio, you had to sit with lawyers who only wanted to hear bad things about Dian,” Hallstrom told PEOPLE. She was reportedly pressured to commit “felony perjury” to protect Barker’s reputation, but she refused.
Although California law prohibits firing someone for refusing to testify, Hallstrom claims she was later removed from the show under the excuse of body shaming.
Weight Used as a Weapon Against Her
After being part of the show for 19 years, Hallstrom says she was suddenly forced into “early retirement,” with the official reason being her weight. “Barker said I was overweight, and that’s why I was off the show,” she said. She recalls being humiliated on set, where the director allegedly hid her behind large props like appliances and cars to avoid showing her figure.
The issue escalated into a public battle, with Barker labeling Hallstrom a “liar” and denying that her weight had ever been a problem, despite what Hallstrom claims were on-set directives.
The Cost of Speaking Out
Unlike other colleagues who signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) as part of settlements, Hallstrom chose to speak out, appearing on the Hard Copy news program. In response, Barker filed a defamation lawsuit that dragged on for years, leading to financial and emotional strain for Hallstrom.
The legal battle lasted nearly 10 years, during which Hallstrom says she was financially “wiped out” by the costs of defending herself. In 2000, Barker dropped the lawsuit just days before the trial, and Hallstrom later sued for malicious prosecution, eventually reaching an out-of-court settlement.
A Shift in Industry Accountability
For the past 20 years, Hallstrom remained largely silent out of fear of further legal retaliation. “I didn’t speak out until he was dead,” she said, referring to Barker’s death in 2023. “Even though he lost, he would’ve done it again in a heartbeat.”
Hallstrom’s story comes at a time when the entertainment industry is facing more scrutiny and accountability, especially regarding the treatment of women in legacy television. By refusing to sign an NDA, she has become one of the few primary sources to shed light on the behind-the-scenes issues at The Price Is Right.
“To speak out and have an audience to hear it, it was so liberating,” she said. “It was like the weight of the world was off my shoulders.”
