Matthew Lillard ‘ashamed’ he returned to ‘Scream’ franchise after Melissa Barrera fired for Israel-Gaza posts
NBC News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Matthew Lillard expressed regret for filming “Scream 7” after co-star Melissa Barrera was fired due to her social media posts criticizing Israel amid the Israel-Gaza conflict, saying he was “on the wrong side of history.”
- Barrera was removed from the franchise by Spyglass Media Group after sharing posts that condemned Israel and accused it of “genocide and ethnic cleansing,” which the production company said violated their zero-tolerance policy on antisemitism.
- Lillard criticized the industry and public response to Barrera’s firing, stating she was “on the right side of history” and that the lack of support for her was “brutal.”
- The actor referenced similar backlash faced by rapper Macklemore, who was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour after expressing pro-Palestinian views, highlighting the professional risks of taking political stances.
- Lillard admitted feeling ashamed for not standing with Barrera and for continuing with the “Scream” project, acknowledging he did not fully consider the implications of her situation when deciding to participate.
