The news of Melissa Barrera‘s departure from SCREAM VII (also known as SCREAM 7) sent ripples across the entertainment industry. Barrera, who played a significant role as Sam Carpenter in the previous two films, was reportedly fired over comments related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Reports suggest that her social media comments in support of Palestine over IG stories, where she expressed solidarity and reflected on her Mexican heritage, led to her “quiet” exit from the sequel.
“Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp. Cornering everyone together, with no where to go, no electricity no water … People have learnt nothing from our histories. And just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.”
This development comes right after a recent backdrop of Hollywood tumult, notably the SAG-AFTRA strike and the Writers Guild strike, that affected numerous productions and casting decisions.
The SCREAM franchise, under the stewardship of Radio Silence – a creative team comprising Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, and producer Chad Villella – had successfully revived and reinvented the series, gaining both critical and commercial success. Their departure from directing SCREAM 7, with Christopher Landon taking the helm, marked another significant shift.
Landon, known for his work blending horror with comedic elements, brings a new vision to the series, aligning with its essence yet venturing into uncharted territory.
The uncertainty extends to casting, with negotiations and confirmations pending for key actors, including Jenna Ortega, whose rising stardom post ‘Wednesday‘ and ‘Beetlejuice 2‘ adds to the complexity.
As for the legacy cast members from Wes Craven’s era, such as Courteney Cox and Neve Campbell, their involvement remains unsettled, particularly in light of salary disputes and fan expectations for a fitting send-off for iconic characters.
The future of SCREAM 7, now without Barrera and under a new directorial vision, remains shrouded in mystery. With no official release dates and, an imminent major revision of the franchise plans, the speculation continues to build.
The exit of Barrera, the lead in the recent installments, sets a new course for the franchise.
Spyglass Media Group releases statement
Amidst heated online debates regarding Melissa Barrera’s termination, Spyglass Media Group issued a statement to Variety via a spokesperson, revealing their interpretation of Melissa’s social media posts.
“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”.
This pronouncement came as Spyglass’s social media channels were overwhelmed with comments from fans. The situation also reached Christopher Landon, the upcoming director of the film, who addressed the matter on Twitter:
“Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.”
A significant portion of the fandom reacted negatively to the company’s decision, promptly initiating a social media trend under the hashtag #JusticeForMelissaBarrera, accompanied by several petitions.
Melissa Barrera’s statement
(11/22/2023, 21:30 BRT) Melissa Barrera expressed her views on Instagram stories.
“First and foremost I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people.
As a Latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me to the privilege of being heard, and therefore I have tried to use it to raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need.
Every person on this earth- regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or socio-economic status- deserves equal human rights, dignity and, of course, freedom.
I believe a group of people are NOT their leadership, and that no governing body should be above criticism.
I pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence, and for peaceful co-existence. I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom.
Silence is not an option for me.“
