‘Scream’ actress Melissa Barrera criticizes former co-stars for coming back after she was let go.

Melissa Barrera Critiques Former ‘Scream’ Co-Stars

The actress Melissa Barrera, known for her role in the “Scream” series, has expressed her disappointment towards her former castmates who have decided to reprise their roles without her after she was ousted for comments about Israel. She described their actions as “despicable.”

“Absolutely, they were scabby,” Barrera stated, adding that this behavior is something, “everyone is like that.” Her remarks seemingly targeted actors Mason Gooding and Jasmine Savoy Brown, who starred alongside her in the fifth and sixth installments of the franchise but have returned for “Scream 7” without her.

Barrera mentioned, “The only way they were able to make that movie after what happened was to inject as much nostalgia as possible.”

In a discussion with a Variety reporter, Barrera was asked whether she was fired from “Scream 7.” She confirmed that it felt like a betrayal when former cast members crossed what she considered a metaphorical picket line.

Barrera’s departure from the series happened in late 2023, following backlash over her social media posts regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. In one of her posts, she referred to the situation in Gaza as akin to a concentration camp, arguing that international silence resembles historical indifference toward atrocities.

At the time of her dismissal, the production company, Spyglass Media Group, remarked that her comments crossed a line, straying into areas of hatred and anti-Semitism.

Barrera defended herself by asserting that criticism should be directed towards governing bodies, not groups of people as a whole. She stressed that she wishes for peace and human rights for all, declaring, “Silence is not an option for me.”

Furthermore, after Barrera’s firing, Jenna Ortega, another key actress in the series, also declined to return, while director Christopher Landon left the project. Initially, Ortega’s exit was explained by scheduling conflicts, but she later implied that the turmoil surrounding Barrera’s departure influenced her decision, stating that it didn’t feel right to continue under the given circumstances.

When asked about support from her colleagues after the fallout, Barrera noted that while she did receive personal messages from some, those without any accompanying action felt insubstantial.