Melissa Barrera has been let go from the upcoming film Scream VII by the film’s production company Spyglass over social media posts critical of Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas.
The Monterrey, Mexico-born actress, 33, was ‘quietly dropped’ from the cast of the horror film, source told Variety Tuesday, over multiple posts she has put up since Hamas militants stormed the Supernova music festival October 7, beginning the ongoing military conflict.
Barrera, who played the role of Sam Carpenter in this year’s Scream VI and last year’s Scream, had labeled Israel as a ‘colonized’ land and posted content containing an antisemitic trope in regards to Jewish people controlling the media.
Barrera, who has also appeared in films such as In the Heights, Carmen and the upcoming Bed Rest, posted a statement that read, ‘Western media only shows the [Israeli] side. Why do they do that, I will let you deduce for yourself.’
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Barrera said in another Instagram Stories post that ‘Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp.’
The latest: Melissa Barrera, 33, has been let go from the upcoming film Scream VII by the film’s production company Spyglass over social media posts critical of Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas. Pictured in LA this past April
Barrera played the role of Sam Carpenter in this year’s Scream VI and last year’s Scream
She added: ‘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.’
Barrera on Monday posted a number of war-related clips to her Instagram Stories, including footage of American-Israeli forces in Gaza; demonstrations in favor of a cease fire in Philadelphia; and Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib calling for an immediate cease fire.
Barrera played a key role in both of the hit horror films, as 2022’s Scream made $137.7 million in box office revenues globally, while Scream V, released this past March, took in $168.9 in global totals.
A number of Barerra’s fans chimed in on the comment section of a post she put up on September 16, offering up support for her amid the news of her scuttled Scream role.
One fan said, ‘We stand with you queen & we’ll be boycotting scream 7.’
Another fan remarked, ‘Thank you for being brave enough to care! I know me and others will continue to support you!’
Said one fan, ‘Please tell me that you being let go from Scream VII isn’t true? How could they let you go for calling for a ceasefire?’
Christopher Landon is slated to direct the film, on which production has not yet commenced, THR reported. Paramount is expected to distribute the motion picture.
Barrera had labeled Israel as a ‘colonized’ land in one of her posts
Barrera posted content containing an antisemitic trope in regards to media control
Barrera on Monday posted a number of war-related clips to her Instagram Stories, including footage of American-Israeli forces in Gaza
A number of Barerra’s fans chimed in on the comment section of a post she put up on September 16, offering up support for her amid the news of her scuttled Scream role
The film’s development has ‘been slow amid the actors and writers strikes,’ according to the outlet.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Barerra’s reps and Spyglass for further comment on the story.
However, shortly after news that Melissa was no longer a part of the project, Spyglass Media Group issued a statement, per Variety, explaining that the company has ‘zero tolerance for antisemitism.’
A spokesperson told the outlet, ‘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.’
