Melissa Barrera is out of her starring role in the ‘Scream’ franchise, and the production company that fired her says it’s due to her social media posts it deems hate-inciting and antisemitic.
The actress was set to once again assume the leading role in “Scream VII” after starring in “Scream” and “Scream VI” … but she’s reportedly been let go because of posts about Israel and Palestine.
Melissa’s more controversial statements included an Instagram story where she seemingly alludes to a longstanding trope about Jewish people controlling the media.
She wrote … “I have been actively looking for videos and information about the Palestinian side for the last 2 weeks or so, following accounts etc. Why? Because Western media only shows the other side. Why they do that, I will let you deduce for yourself.”
In other posts, Melissa reportedly compared Gaza to a concentration camp, calling the war in the Middle East “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing” … and referring to Israel as a “colonized” land.
Variety was first to report on Melissa’s firing … and she seemed to be addressing it Tuesday with a post declaring she would rather be excluded for who she includes than included for who she excludes.
Christopher Landon, who is set to direct ‘Scream VII,’ reacted on social media, saying … “Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.”
Spyglass Media Group, the production company that did make the decision, says it did so, because … “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.”
Melissa plays Sam Carpenter in “Scream” and “Scream VI” … but now some big changes are on the horizon for “Scream VII.”
Other actresses are taking hits for statements on the war — as we reported, Susan Sarandon was dropped from her Hollywood talent agency for a controversial speech at a pro-Palestine rally in NYC.
Sarandon said Jewish people in America living in fear of antisemitism since the Hamas terror attacks on Oct 7, were finding out what it feels like to be Muslim in America.