Scream: Studio and Director Address Controversial Backlash Surrounding Melissa Barrera
Scream studio & director respond to controversy over Melissa Barrera's departure from the movie, addressing the firing and the backlash
The studio and director of Scream 7 have addressed the controversy surrounding the removal of Melissa Barrera from the movie. Barrera has gained recognition in the horror genre for her portrayal of Sam Carpenter in the 2022 Scream reboot and Scream 6.
The actress set to appear in Scream 7 has been fired by Spyglass, the studio behind the movies, after sharing social media posts about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Both Scream 7 director Christopher Landon and Spyglass have released statements on the matter. Please be aware that some may find this content distressing.
Scream studio & director address Melissa Barrera firing
As a loud backlash ensues on social media amid the decision to fire Melissa Barrera, a Spyglass spokesperson shared the following statement with Variety:
"Spyglass is firm in our position: There is no room for antisemitism or the promotion of hate in any way, including deceptive mentions of genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust denial, or any form of hate speech."
Landon expressed a different perspective in a since-deleted X/Twitter post, saying, "This is my statement: Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make." According to Variety, a spokesperson for Spyglass stated that Barrera was let go due to her posts being viewed as "antisemitic," leading to additional backlash on the internet.
All of Barrera's social media posts about the Israel-Hamas conflict have been shared online, including one which reads: "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.
"Do not unfairly blame or hate an entire group of people for the actions of a few. I stand in solidarity with all those affected by conflict. My prayers are for freedom and peace for you and your loved ones."
In a separate post, Barrera expressed: "It's incredibly disheartening to see many individuals and a majority of Western media working so diligently to equate Palestinian Liberation with endorsing Hamas. These are not interchangeable concepts."
She has included links on her Instagram page for her followers to donate to Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders. According to Variety, the social posts that caused offense were related to her efforts to seek news from the perspective of Palestinians, as she felt that Western media only showed one side of the story.
Criticism of Spyglass's statement continues, as one user tweeted: "Cancel Scream VII. We won't support genocide and the suppression of free speech. Spyglass and Paramount are disgraceful. The horror community stands with Melissa Barrera."
Another person expressed their frustration with Spyglass, Scream 7, and Hollywood for choosing to keep bad people employed while letting go of individuals like Melissa Barrera. This sentiment was echoed by others, with one commenter proclaiming that Paramount/Spyglass is finished after their treatment of Neve Campbell and Melissa Barrera. Another commenter criticized the culture of canceling anyone who holds a differing opinion from the mainstream, emphasizing that Barrera was not in the wrong. Lastly, another individual commented on the irony of Spyglass seemingly destroying their own success by punishing Barrera for speaking out against children dying in the streets.
Many have compared Barrera’s firing to the treatment of Noah Schnapp amid his latest controversy, which you can read more about here.
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan of the Scream franchise, I am deeply saddened by the recent controversy surrounding Melissa Barrera's departure from the upcoming Scream 7 movie. Barrera, who portrayed Sam Carpenter in the 2022 Scream reboot and Scream 6, was fired by Spyglass, the studio behind the movies, after sharing social media posts about the Israel-Hamas conflict.
I believe that Spyglass's decision to fire Barrera is a clear example of censorship and a violation of her right to freedom of speech. Barrera's posts, which expressed her support for the Palestinian people and called for an end to the violence in the region, were not antisemitic or hateful. In fact, she specifically stated that she does not condone violence or hate speech against any group of people.
