Melissa Barrera, who was dismissed from the Scream franchise after criticizing Israel's military actions in Gaza, has taken aim at the cast of Scream 7 in a recent interview. The 35-year-old Mexican-born actress led 2022's Scream and its 2023 sequel Scream VI but was dropped from Scream 7 by production company Spyglass following her social media posts condemning the Israeli government's killing of Palestinian civilians after the October 7 Hamas attacks.
Barrera's Allegations Against Spyglass and Cast
In an interview with Variety, Barrera agreed with journalist Marlow Stern that the critically panned sequel 'sucked' and claimed its high box office gross might have been fabricated. 'I think they lied about the numbers. I don't think it made that much money,' she stated. She also criticized unnamed returning cast members for participating in the seventh film, calling them 'scabby' and 'crossing the picket line.' 'I think they all are. And they have to live with that. The only way they were able to make that movie after what happened was to nostalgia-bait as much as possible,' she added.
Defense Against Antisemitism Allegations
Barrera defended herself against Spyglass's accusations of antisemitism, saying, 'Those people still deny that what’s going on is a genocide. So, we’re never going to see eye to eye on that. I mean the people that accused me of being antisemitic, and the people that run Spyglass. And they’re wrong. Just factually wrong.' She noted that despite more Hollywood stars speaking out against Israel, 'there are still a lot of people in the industry who have a personal grudge against me' due to her comments.
Background on Barrera's Firing
Following the October 7 Hamas terror attacks, which killed approximately 1,200 people at an Israeli music festival, Barrera used Instagram to speak out against Israel's assault on Gaza. In November 2023, she shared posts accusing Israel of 'genocide and ethnic cleansing' and referred to Gaza as 'a concentration camp.' Spyglass promptly fired her, stating they have 'zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide.' Barrera responded by condemning both antisemitism and Islamophobia, emphasizing her commitment to speaking out for human rights.
Barrera's Career Post-Scream
After her firing, Barrera's career slowed but has since rebounded. She starred in Peacock's action-thriller The Copenhagen Test alongside Simu Liu and made her Broadway debut in Titanique. Upcoming projects include the Spanish thriller Black Tides with John Travolta.
Broader Context of Genocide Accusations
Since Barrera's firing, several major organizations and scholars have labeled Israel's attacks on Gaza as genocide, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. South Africa and various government officials have also made such accusations. Israel denies these claims, asserting it targets Hamas, not civilians. A study in The Lancet Global Health reported over 75,000 deaths in the first 16 months of the Gaza war, predominantly women, children, and the elderly.
