Melissa Barrera Reacts to Scream 7 Protests 2 Years After Her Firing

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In November 2024, Spyglass Entertainment fired Melissa Barrera from Scream 7 due to her public support for Palestine. This led the company to reconsider the film, which has faced protests since its release.

Protesters gathered at the Los Angeles premiere of Scream 7 on February 25th, more than two years after Melissa Barrera was fired following controversy. Both Scream 7 director Kevin Williamson and Barrera have since spoken about the protests.

On Wednesday, actress Jenna Ortega appeared to acknowledge calls for a boycott on Instagram, posting simply “I see you” with a heart emoji on a black background. This came as protesters, waving Palestinian flags, called for people to cancel their Paramount+ subscriptions while chanting “Free Palestine.”

The protest was organized by three groups: Entertainment Labor for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace-Los Angeles, and CODEPINK LA. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the groups stated their goal was to highlight how the entertainment industry often ignores or downplays support for Palestinians and overlooks Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Recently, concerns have grown about a reported “blacklist” of actors at Paramount Studios. This arose after a sign surfaced alleging that Paramount was keeping track of those who publicly criticize Israel. The claims gained traction when several actors – including Mark Ruffalo, Emma Stone, and Pedro Pascal – signed a letter supporting Palestine, leading to reports that they had been blacklisted by the studio.

What Happened With Melissa Barrera’s Firing?

Spyglass Media, the company behind the Scream movies, strongly condemned comments made as antisemitic and stated they have no tolerance for antisemitism or any form of hate speech.

The news about Melissa Barrera’s firing really sent things spiraling, and it wasn’t long before another key player jumped ship – Jenna Ortega. At first, we heard it was just a scheduling issue with her incredibly popular show Wednesday Season 2. But honestly, the story quickly evolved, and it seems Ortega wasn’t happy with the creative path the Scream franchise was heading in. It’s a big shakeup, and definitely leaves you wondering what’s going on behind the scenes.

Shortly after, director Christopher Landon also left the project. In 2025, he explained that being a public figure can be difficult. He noted that people often expect immediate responses and want you to share their opinions.

Scream 7 Plans Had to Be Scrapped

Rumors circulated that Sam Carpenter, played by Melissa Barrera, was originally intended to become the new Ghostface, following in the footsteps of her father, Billy Loomis. Skeet Ulrich, while stating he wouldn’t be in Scream 7, confirmed these rumors. After Barrera was let go from the project, those plans were abandoned and the storyline was rewritten.

The latest Scream movie marks Kevin Williamson’s first time directing one of the films, and it features the return of Neve Campbell. Williamson also spoke about recent protests while at the movie’s premiere.

Williamson told The Hollywood Reporter that seeing the protesters was shocking. They emphasized the importance of the right to protest in America, stating that everyone deserves to be heard and should feel empowered to speak their truth. Williamson fully supports this right and the act of peaceful protest.

Scream 7 is currently playing in theaters.

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2026-02-27 20:06