Melissa Barrera has controversially been fired from Scream 7 following comments made by the actress amid the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel. The 33-year-old Mexican actress was let go after leading two successful movies as Sam Carpenter, leading many to question exactly what she said that led to her removal from the franchise. So, here’s everything that happened involving Melissa Barrera that has led to her being removed from the next Scream sequel.
Why was Melissa Barrera fired from Scream 7?
Melissa Barrera has reportedly been fired from Scream 7 after posting several Instagram stories about the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
Both Deadline and Variety reported on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, that Melissa Barrera had been dropped from Scream 7. She will not be reprising her role as Sam Carpenter alongside Jenna Ortega’s Tara Carpenter in Spyglass Media’s upcoming Scream installment due to her Instagram stories being perceived as antisemitic.
In an official statement to Variety, Spyglass Media’s rep stated:
“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion, or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”
Multiple screenshots of Barrera’s IG stories reveal what she had to say about the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
What did Melissa Barrera say about Palestine & Israel?
Melissa Barrera posted several Instagram stories in support of Palestine stating “Palestine WILL be free,” among other things.
In one of her posts, Barrera wrote:
“As we all wake up to what is (and has been) happening in Gaza and see it for what it is, it is very important to also understand: Just like all Palestinians are NOT Hamas, All Jewish people are NOT the Israeli Govt.”
She added:
“Do not blame, or hate on, a whole group of people because of what some are doing. I stand with all those caught in the crossfire. I pray for freedom and peace for you and your families.”
The following X (formerly known as Twitter) thread reveals almost everything that the Scream VI actor posted to raise her voice about the Palestine-Israel conflict:
The actress was reportedly expected to return in Scream VII, but the dozens of IG stories she posted led to her firing from the film. Whether her character gets recast or written out of the upcoming Christopher Landon movie remains to be seen.
For more updates, check out how Director Landon reacted to Barrera’s firing.
