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“Scream” actor Matthew Lillard said Tuesday that he felt “ashamed” for returning to the horror franchise after actress Melissa Barrera was fired over social media posts about Israel and the war in Gaza, telling fans during a 30th anniversary screening in Austin, Texas, that he believed he ended up on the “wrong side of history.”
Lillard, who reprised his role as Stu Macher in the seventh installment, said his excitement about returning to the franchise overshadowed his concerns about how Barrera had been treated.
As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Lillard said, “I went back to do Scream, and I got called out. And I’m like, ‘Oh, f—. That’s brutal.’” “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’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,” Lillard continued.
Melissa Barrera visits Despierta America to promote Scream VI at Univision Studios on Mar. 10, 2023, in Doral, Fla. (John Parra/Getty Images)
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Barrera was dropped from the franchise in November 2023 after publishing and sharing a series of posts criticizing Israel following Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
In one post previously reported by Digital, Barrera accused Israel of committing “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza.
“Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp,” Barrera said. “Cornering everyone together, with no where to go, no electricity no water … People have [learned] nothing from our histories. And just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.”
In another post, Barrera claimed Western news outlets were disproportionately presenting Israel’s side of the conflict and told followers to draw their own conclusions about why.
Actor Matthew Lillard said “F— ICE” during a “Scream” screening in Los Angeles on Halloween. (Getty)
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“Because western media only shows the other side. Why they do that, I will let you deduce for yourself,” Barrera said.
Spyglass denied at the time that Barrera was removed merely for supporting Palestinians, instead saying it viewed some of her rhetoric as antisemitic.
“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: 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,” the company said.
Digital reached out to Spyglass Media for comment about Lillard’s remarks.
Barrera subsequently rejected the suggestion that she was promoting antisemitism and defended her criticism of governments, Digital reported in May.
Ghostface is seen at the Los Angeles premiere of Paramount Pictures “Scream 7” at Paramount Pictures Studios on Feb. 25, 2026, in Hollywood, California. (Matt Winkelmeyer/FilmMagic)
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“I believe a group of people are not their leadership and that no governing body should be above criticism. I pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence and for peaceful co-existence,” Barrera said.
The controversy resurfaced earlier this year when Barrera criticized former cast-mates who returned to the franchise without her. When asked whether actors who went back for “Scream 7” were “scabby,” Barrera agreed.
“One hundred percent. I think they all are,” Barrera said. “And they have to live with that.”
At Tuesday’s screening, Lillard directly defended Barrera’s position and criticized the lack of public support she received after her firing.
“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 f-—– bulls— and really hard, and she’s on the right side of history.”
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“When that happened to Melissa, the whole world didn’t pipe up, but she was a year early on what the f—’s going on. But the whole world should have popped up and said, ‘She’s right.’ And they didn’t. And that’s brutal.”
Despite the upheaval surrounding its development, “Scream 7” was released Feb. 27 and eventually crossed $200 million at the global box office, becoming the highest-grossing film in the franchise’s history, according to Paramount. The film shifted its focus back to Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott and brought back several franchise veterans, including Lillard.
When reached for comment by Digital, Hollywood in Toto editor Christian Toto said of Lillard’s remarks: “Now that the Palestinian cause is spiking in his far-Left industry, he has regrets. Now. Months after shooting the film. Months after its release. Months after the actress in question lost the role.”
Toto added, “Will he give all the money back? Does he know what she actually said about Israel and the timing of those comments? Is he aware of other artists who have had their free speech rights trampled?”
