Melissa Barrera Speaks Out After Controversial Exit from ‘Scream VII’: Denouncing Hate
Melissa Barrera speaks out after being let go from 'Scream VII' due to her controversial remarks on the Israel-Hamas conflict
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Melissa Barrera has broken her silence on being let go from Scream VII over her comments about the Israel-Hamas war.
In her Instagram Story on November 22, actress Barrera, 33, unequivocally denounced Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. She expressed her condemnation of all forms of hate and prejudice towards any group of people. As a proud Latina and Mexican, Barrera acknowledged her responsibility in using her platform to raise awareness and lend her voice to those in need.
The news broke on Tuesday, November 21, that Barrera, known for her role as Samantha Carpenter in the 2022 film Scream and 2023's Scream 6, was released from the upcoming Scream film due to her remarks about the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. (The franchise previously parted ways with its previous final girl, Neve Campbell, due to financial disagreements prior to Scream 6.)
In a statement the following day, Barrera expressed, "Every person on this earth, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status, deserves equal human rights, dignity, and freedom. I believe that a group of people should not be judged by their leadership, and that no governing body should be beyond criticism."
Barrera ended the post with a prayer for an end to deaths and violence and for peaceful coexistence. She vowed to keep speaking out for those in need and to advocate for peace, safety, human rights, and freedom, stating that remaining silent is not an option for her.
Spyglass, the production company behind the new batch of Scream sequels, released a statement regarding Barrera's removal from the film after news of her departure broke. Their statement to Variety made it clear that they have zero tolerance for antisemitism and the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion, or anything that crosses the line into hate speech.
Christopher Landon, the director of Scream VII, also addressed Barrera's dismissal in a now-deleted Tweet on Tuesday, stating, "This is my statement: Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make."
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Latest Update:
Jenna Ortega will not be returning to play Tara Carpenter in the upcoming season of Wednesday, as she will be occupied with filming season 2 of Netflix's Wednesday series. This news was confirmed on Wednesday, according to Deadline.
The Tim Burton series is set to begin filming in April 2024, with the cast scheduled to stay in Ireland until later that summer. In addition, Ortega is currently working on Beetlejuice 2 with Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, set to be released in May 2024.
