Matthew Lillard has expressed deep regret over his decision to return for Scream 7 following the firing of co-star Melissa Barrera, who was removed from the franchise after social media posts criticizing Israel during the war in Gaza. Lillard, who originated the role of Stu Macher in Wes Craven’s 1996 classic Scream, reprised the character for the seventh installment, which opened in February and became the highest-grossing entry in the series with $214 million worldwide.
Lillard Addresses Political Activism at Anniversary Screening
During a recent 30th-anniversary screening of the original Scream, a fan asked Lillard about the difficulty of speaking out on political issues as an actor. The question followed headlines from last year when Lillard shouted “fuck ICE” at a Scream screening.
“I don’t know how else to do it,” Lillard told the fan (via Entertainment Weekly). “For me, I have queer kids. If I’m not standing up for queer kids or kids in the trans community, then what the fuck am I doing? If I’m not standing up against ICE, then what the fuck am I doing?”
Lillard acknowledged that activism isn’t always straightforward, citing the fallout surrounding Barrera as a prime example. “I don’t think it’s easy all the time,” he noted.
Barrera’s Firing and Studio Statement
Spyglass Media Group, the franchise’s producer, terminated Barrera after she had starred in two installments and was preparing to return for Scream 7. The company issued a statement declaring “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.”
Lillard Condemns the Decision, Calls Barrera “On the Right Side of History”
Lillard did not hold back in his criticism of the studio’s move, directly linking Barrera’s dismissal to her commentary on the conflict in Gaza.
“Melissa Barrera, who’s a beautiful actor, was fired for what she said after the whole Palestinian — what started happening in Israel,” Lillard said. “It’s really fucking bullshit and really hard, and she’s on the right side of history. When they start coming after your job, sometimes things are worth it… When that happened to Melissa, the whole world didn’t pipe up. But she was a year early on what the fuck’s going on. But the whole world should have popped up and said, ‘She’s right.’ And they didn’t. And that’s brutal.”
“I Feel Ashamed”: Lillard Confronts His Own Complicity
The actor then turned the lens on himself, admitting he failed to consider the implications of returning to the franchise without Barrera.
“I went back to do ‘Scream,’ and I got called out. And I’m like, ‘Oh, fuck. That’s brutal,’” he continued. “I feel bad about that. I feel ashamed about that. Because in that moment I was so excited to go back, I didn’t really think about Melissa and that journey. I didn’t say no. I’m embarrassed; that’s the truth… I blew that. I’m on the wrong side of history for that. I still like being in the movie [but] it may not have been the best idea.”
Backlash and Boycott Calls Followed “Scream 7” Release
After war broke out in Gaza in 2023, Barrera used Instagram to share her views, accusing Israel of “genocide and ethnic cleansing.” The posts led directly to her firing, which in turn ignited a wave of backlash against Scream 7. Supporters of Barrera and Palestine organized protests outside the film’s Los Angeles premiere and called for a boycott of the horror sequel.
