What Did Melissa Barrera Say? Here’s Why She Was Fired From Scream 7

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After news broke that she’d been fired from Scream 7, a lot of fans were curious as to what did Melissa Barrera say that caused her to get the ax. She was due to star alongside Wednesday‘s Jenna Ortega in the seventh iteration of the beloved horror franchise set for release in 2024.

Barrera is a Mexican actress and singer, known for her work in both film and television. Born on July 4, 1990, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Barrera has gained recognition for her talent and versatility in the entertainment industry. She gained widespread attention for her role as Lyn Hernandez in the Starz series Vida, which premiered in 2018. The show received critical acclaim for its portrayal of LGBTQ+ and Latinx communities.

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In addition to her television work, Barrera has also ventured into the film industry. She starred in the lead role in the musical drama film In the Heights, based on the Broadway musical of the same name created by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The film was released in 2021 and received positive reviews for its vibrant portrayal of the Washington Heights neighborhood in New York City.

“I grew up going to see my classmates in theater perform, always wanting to be a part of that because it felt so cool,” she told People in March 2023. “I would be a little fan in the hallways, watching middle schoolers and high schoolers that were in the show.” Over time she built up the courage to participate in her school’s theater department. “I just fell in love with the whole process of auditioning and bonding with theater people,” she says. “They became my friends.”

“Living in the moment is something that I struggle with,” she continued. “My mom is always there to remind me to pat myself on the back, hug myself and speak to myself in the mirror to congratulate myself on how far I’ve come. I’m trying to change my mentality.”

Her career experienced a hiccup in November 2023, however, when she was fired from Scream 7. So what did Melissa Barrera say that landed her in hot water? Here’s what we know.

What did Melissa Barrera say?

What did Melissa Barrera say?
What did Melissa Barrera say?

In late November 2023, Melissa Barrera made several social media posts regarding the Israel-Hamas war. “Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp,” she wrote in one post on Instagram stories. “Cornering everyone together, with no where to go, no electricity no water … People have learnt nothing from our histories. And just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.”

On November 21, 2023, the film studio Spyclass made a statement after news broke she’d been fired from the project. “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,” per The Hollywood Reporter.

Barrera has made dozens of posts about the war since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, including one that remains on her Instagram feed. “We come together as artists and advocates, but most importantly as human beings witnessing the devastating loss of lives and unfolding horrors in Palestine and Israel.”

The post continued: “Please join us in demanding that Congress, @POTUS, and other world leaders call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost. We must end the bombing of Gaza, secure the safe release of all hostages, and demand adequate access for humanitarian aid to reach the people that desperately need it.”

In an interview with People, Barrera spoke of the new Scream film and getting to know her character, Sam. “In the fifth [movie], they were thrown into the ring, and it’s chaos,” she said. “I’m very happy that we get to know Sam a little bit more in the sixth movie. I was like, ‘She’s such an interesting character because she has so many demons that can be—if the writers and directors want—explored and lead to a very interesting challenge for me. In the sixth one, [they] take her in that direction. I feel very happy about that.”

What happened with Jenna Ortega?

What happened with Jenna Ortega?
What happened with Jenna Ortega?

Shortly after Barrera’s firing, news broke that her co-star Jenna Ortega had stepped away from the project, however, “this has nothing to do with the fallout from Melissa Barrera‘s firing yesterday by Spyglass Media over that actress’ social media repostings on the Hamas-Israel conflict; nor does it have to do with the actress asking for an end to her Scream contract,” Deadline reported. The news is simply a poorly timed coincidence.

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