Melissa Barrera Blasts SCREAM 7 Cast as “Scabs” and Calls Sequel “Nostalgia Bait”
Things just got a lot more intense in the ongoing fallout surrounding Scream 7, and Melissa Barrera isn’t holding anything back. The former franchise lead has taken aim at the latest installment, its cast, and even its reported box office success, offering some brutally honest thoughts about how everything played out after her exit.
Barrera was originally set to continue leading the Scream franchise as Sam Carpenter, but that plan unraveled after her outspoken comments on the Israel-Hamas war led to her being fired by Spyglass.
The studio accused her of “hate speech,” while she pushed back hard on that narrative. The situation divided fans and the industry, but the franchise moved forward without her.
Despite negative reviews, Scream 7 still pulled in $214 million worldwide against a $45 million budget, outperforming both Scream VI and the 2022 reboot. Barrera, however, isn’t buying those numbers.
In a candid interview, she opened up about the aftermath of her firing and the lingering tension in Hollywood. “The pessimistic side of me was having those thoughts, but the optimistic side of me was like, 'F*** no. I’m sure the tide will turn.' And it has.
“But because I was one of the first to speak up, to this day there are still a lot of people in the industry who have a personal grudge against me.”
She didn’t stop there, doubling down on her stance and calling out those who opposed her. “Those people still deny that what’s going on is a genocide.
“So, we’re never going to see eye to eye on that. I mean the people that accused me of being antisemitic, and the people that run Spyglass. And they’re wrong. Just factually wrong.”
There’s also been speculation that Jenna Ortega stepped away from the franchise in solidarity with Barrera, but she shut that idea down quickly.
“That’s not the reality of things. I got some messages of support from people in the industry, but what I found is that private messages with no action mean nothing.”
When the conversation turned to the film itself, Barrera didn’t hold back. Agreeing with criticism of the movie, she said, “I think they lied about the numbers. I don’t think it made that much money.
“But at the stage door, I sign 'Scream' things every night. People who love me from those movies are coming to see the show, and they can’t ever take that away from me.”
Then came the most explosive part of the interview. When it was suggested that actors who joined Scream 7 crossed a line by participating after her firing, Barrera fully agreed:
“Oh, one hundred percent. I think they all are. And they have to live with that. The only way they were able to make that movie after what happened was to nostalgia-bait as much as possible.”
Scream 7 leaned heavily into legacy elements, bringing back Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, along with returning faces like Matthew Lillard, David Arquette, and Scott Foley.
New additions included Isabel May, Joel McHale, and a lineup of fresh cast members. The story follows Sidney as she faces a new Ghostface threat targeting her daughter, forcing her to confront her past once again.
Franchise creator Kevin Williamson stepped in to direct, with a script from Guy Busick based on a story he developed with James Vanderbilt.
Whether fans agree with Barrera or not, there’s no denying she’s making sure her voice is heard loud and clear.
Source: Variety