The world premiere of Scream 7 in Los Angeles on Wednesday was met with a protest by pro-Palestine activists, who demonstrated against the firing of actress Melissa Barrera from the franchise. The protest was led by groups including Entertainment Labor for Palestine, CodePink LA, and Jewish Voice for Peace-Los Angeles, aiming to highlight what they described as the industry's silencing of pro-Palestinian voices.
Director Kevin Williamson addressed the protest, telling Deadline: “We live in America. We have the right to protest. They have the right to be heard, and they have a right to speak to what your truth is, and I support that.” The demonstration comes amid a fan-led boycott of the film following Barrera's dismissal in November 2023 over her social media posts on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Spyglass Media, the production company, stated at the time that it has “zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form.” Barrera's firing led to the departure of co-star Jenna Ortega and director Christopher Landon, who cited death threats against his children. Neve Campbell later returned to the franchise as Sidney Prescott, having sat out the previous instalment over a pay dispute.
Scream 7 follows Sidney Prescott as she faces a new Ghostface while protecting her family. The film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and others. It is released in UK cinemas on Friday.
