The Price Is Right Scandal: Holly Hallstrom Speaks Out

Bob Barker’s decades-long run as host of The Price Is Right cemented his status as a television icon. However, a novel documentary, Dirty Rotten Scandals, airing March 18 on E!, reveals a darker side to the beloved game show, focusing on allegations of a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and discrimination. Former model Holly Hallstrom, a “Barker’s Beauty” from 1977 to 1995, is sharing her story after a decades-long legal battle and period of silence.

A Decade-Long Legal Battle

Hallstrom’s departure from The Price Is Right in 1995 followed a refusal to support Bob Barker’s narrative during a lawsuit filed by fellow model Dian Parkinson, who accused Barker of sexual harassment in 1994. Hallstrom alleges she was fired shortly after, believing it was retaliation for her stance. Barker subsequently sued Hallstrom for libel and slander after she spoke to media outlets, including Hard Copy, alleging she was terminated due to weight gain resulting from medication.

Hallstrom fought the lawsuit for five years, facing significant financial hardship, including selling her house and living in her car. Barker dropped the lawsuit 48 hours before trial, after which Hallstrom countersued for wrongful termination and malicious prosecution. A settlement was offered, contingent on a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), which she ultimately declined. In 2015, she won the legal battle, freeing her to publicly share her experiences.

Speaking Out After Years of Silence

Hallstrom described her participation in Dirty Rotten Scandals as a way to finally tell her side of the story. “It has been 30 years, and they approached me initially as they were doing a documentary on the ‘Me Too’ movement where Price fit into that,” Hallstrom explained. “This interested me. Plus, I had to wait until I was sure [Bob Barker] was surely dead because we tried talking once, and he successfully squashed that other side of the story.”

Reliving the trauma was difficult, but Hallstrom felt it was important to share her truth. “It has been cathartic to finally speak about it, but too dredged up the memories from the worst time in my life. That has been really difficult. It has been emotionally exhausting,” she said.

The Power of Stubbornness and Support

Hallstrom attributes her perseverance to “pure stubbornness because I knew I had the truth. That I could win. That I could beat him with the truth, and I did. I beat him good.”

The documentary also highlights the impact Hallstrom had on others. Claudia Jordan, a former model on The Price Is Right, shared that Hallstrom’s strength inspired her to file her own lawsuit against the show’s former producer, Phil Wayne Rossi, for racial discrimination, hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination. Hallstrom was deeply moved by this revelation, stating, “I cried. I had no idea…When she said that she was moved and passionate and it was so important for her to express that to me, I was overwhelmed.”

A Shift in Perspective

Hallstrom reflected on how the cultural climate has changed. “To be completely honest, I had deliberately made it a point of not thinking about that time in my life for 30 years. What shocked me the most was the change in the attitude in the collective approach to harassment in the workplace because before you were just an unheard voice. Now people are listening.”

Looking Forward

Hallstrom hopes the documentary will allow fans of The Price Is Right to hear the full story. “It has always bothered me that the fans…loved us. They enjoyed so much about the show and everyone on it, but only got to hear one side. I’m so grateful for this documentary, so that everyone, but especially the fans can hear what really happened.”

Today, Hallstrom works as a trauma recovery coach in San Diego, utilizing neuro-linguistic programming. “If it helps people, then that brings me joy,” she said. “I’m so grateful that I went through that as bad as it was because it taught me about my own personal power, which I never knew I had until I was challenged.”

Dirty Rotten Scandals: The Price is Right premieres March 18 at 9/8c on E!