Actress out of 'Scream 7' amid Israel-Hamas post fallout

Melissa Barrera, who led 2022's 'Scream' and its sixth installment released earlier this year, will no longer star in 'Scream VII.'

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The actor's removal from the project follows a series of social media posts made in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas War.

In one Instagram story post, Barrera wrote, “Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp. People are cornered together with no electricity and no water... We have learned nothing from our histories. Just like in the past, people are silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.”

Responding to the controversy, a spokesperson for Spyglass, the company behind the 'Scream' franchise, stated: “Spyglass has a zero-tolerance policy for antisemitism or any form of hate incitement, including Holocaust distortion and references to genocide or ethnic cleansing that crosses the line into hate speech.” The Hollywood Reporter (THR) has contacted Barrera's representative, following her numerous posts about the war since Hamas's incursion into Israel on October 7.

Barrera played a pivotal role in reviving the franchise with 'Scream' (2022), which grossed $137.7 million globally. Her character, Sam Carpenter, was the lead in that film and Jenna Ortega’s on-screen older sister, Tera. Barrera also appeared in 'Scream VI,' released in March, earning $168.9 million worldwide.

Christopher Landon, known for 'Happy Death Day,' will replace Radio Silence as the director for 'Scream VII.' The film's development had been sluggish due to actors' and writers' strikes. With Barrera's departure, Spyglass is now reevaluating its plans. Paramount, which distributed the recent installments, is expected to continue for the new film.

Landon expressed his sentiments on X Tuesday: “This is my statement: 💔 Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision.”

In related news, Susan Sarandon was dropped by talent agency UTA after comments made at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York City on November 17.