LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Spyglass Studios has been embroiled in controversy following the termination of actress Melissa Barrera from the upcoming film 'Scream VII'.
The decision comes in the wake of Barrera's recent comments on social media about the Israel-Hamas conflict, sparking intense criticism and resulting in her removal from the highly anticipated horror franchise.
Barrera, known for her role as Sam Carpenter in the 2022 'Scream' alongside Jenna Ortega, took to Instagram to release a statement addressing her termination. “First and foremost I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people,” Barrera, 33, posted on her Instagram story at night on Wednesday, November 23.
“As a latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard, and therefore I have tried to use it to raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need,” she said.
What was Melissa Barrera's controversial post about?
The controversy erupted when Barrera, in a series of Instagram stories, commented on the Israel-Hamas war, expressing solidarity with Palestine. Her posts included statements like, "I too come from a colonized country," accompanied by a Mexican flag emoji.
The actress quoted a popular activist poem, "They tried to bury us, they didn't know we were seeds." Barrera advocated for equal human rights, dignity, and freedom for every individual, regardless of their background.
"Every person on this earth — regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or socio-economic status — deserves equal human rights, dignity and, of course, freedom,” Barrera asserted.
She added, "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."
She concluded her statement with a powerful declaration, "I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom. Silence is not an option for me."
Spyglass weighs in on Melissa Barrera's controversy
Spyglass Entertainment, the studio behind the 'Scream' franchise, also addressed the situation, making their position clear in a statement, "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 fallout from Barrera's termination has not been limited to the actress alone. 'Scream VII' director Christopher Landon, in a now-deleted tweet, expressed his frustration, stating, "This is my statement. Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make."
Netizens blast Spyglass Studios for firing Melissa Barrera
A user tweeted, "Cancel culture needs to be canceled." Another added, "She should sue for wrongful termination." "Well I guess I wont be going to see that movie," read a tweet.
"Matbe they should learn the difference between antisemitism, supporting a terrorist organization and being truly pro-Palestine," stated a fourth user. "Good girl, she is brave!" added another.
