Matthew Lillard has openly expressed regret about his decision to reprise his role in Scream 7 following the firing of fellow Scream actor Melissa Barrera. Barrera was removed from Scream 7 in late 2023 after she posted pro-Palestinian messages criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza. Spyglass Media Group said it fired Barrera because it viewed some of her statements as antisemitic or as crossing into hate speech. Barrera later said she condemned antisemitism and Islamophobia and defended her decision to continue speaking about issues she cared about.
Lillard played the character Stu Macher in Scream 7, which was released in February of this year. The original Scream film came out in 1996, and Lillard returned to the series after a gap of thirty years. Melissa Barrera had been cast as Sam Carpenter in the franchise reboot that began in 2022. She starred in the fifth and sixth Scream films before being removed from the seventh film. Scream 7 was released in theaters on February 27.
Jenna Ortega also left the seventh film after Barrera's firing. Ortega initially cited scheduling issues but later said the upheaval surrounding Barrera's departure was part of her decision to leave.
During a recent 30th anniversary screening of the first Scream film in Austin, Texas, Lillard was asked about his views on political expression, according to Rolling Stone. He said he felt it was important to stand up for marginalized groups, especially queer youth, according to a report from NME. Lillard added that he didn’t know how else to act, given his personal beliefs. He described the firing of Barrera as a difficult and unjust situation.
He said that Barrera was a talented actress who was fired after speaking publicly about Israel and Gaza. Lillard noted that many people did not speak out when Barrera faced consequences for her words. He said that Barrera was ahead of the curve in addressing the situation. Lillard said Barrera was "on the right side of history" and described the lack of public support for her at the time as brutal. Those statements represented Lillard's view of the dispute.
He admitted that he did not consider the impact of his return to Scream 7. Lillard said he felt embarrassed and ashamed about his decision. He acknowledged that he was excited to return but didn’t think about the consequences for Barrera. Lillard admitted he did not say no to returning, which he now regrets. He stated that he felt he had made the wrong choice in this situation. He also said that he still liked being in the film even though returning may not have been the best idea.
The Scream 7 premiere in Los Angeles was met with protests over Barrera’s removal. Protesters at the February 25 premiere called for a boycott of the film and Paramount and carried signs referring to free speech and Palestine. Director Kevin Williamson said he supported the protesters' right to be heard even though the demonstration was aimed at his film.
The controversy surrounding the film has drawn attention to how public figures are treated when they express political views. Lillard’s comments reflect a broader conversation about the responsibility of actors in society. His comments have renewed discussion on the role of art and activism in Hollywood.