Pro-Palestine protestors gather outside ‘Scream 7’ premiere in support of Melissa Barrera
Pro-Palestine protestors gathered outside the premiere of Scream 7 in Los Angeles on February 25th to express support for Melissa Barrera.
Barrera starred in Scream and Scream VI in 2022 and 2023, respectively. However, she was fired in November 2023 for her support of Gaza and for accusing Israel of committing “genocide and ethnic cleansing”.
At the time, Spyglass, the production company behind the Scream franchise, said it had “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.”
Jenna Ortega also dropped out of the film, as did director Christopher Landon. Kevin Williamson was then called up to direct the movie, and Neve Campbell was reportedly paid $7 million to return as Sidney Prescott.
According to Variety, around 25 protesters were outside the premiere and were heard chanting “Paramount, Paramount, what do you say?” and “Palestine will live forever!”.
Per Deadline, the protest was organised by Entertainment Labor for Palestine, CodePink LA and Jewish Voice for Peace-Los Angeles, in a bid to highlight “the industry’s widespread silencing of pro-Palestinian voices and its whitewashing of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
Responding to the protest, Scream 7 director Williamson told The Hollywood Reporter, “I saw them and my heart just sort of stopped. Look, we live in America. Everyone has a right to protest and everyone should be heard.”
Williamson added, “And if you have your truth and if you want to stand up and be heard, you protest. That is your right in this country, and I stand by it. I support that 100 percent.”
Barrera has also responded to the protest, taking to her Instagram Stories to write, “I see you,” alongside a heart emoji.
Scream 7 is set to be released in cinemas worldwide on February 27th.
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