Breaking News: Scream! Melissa Barrera Ousted from Scream VII!
In a plot twist juicier than a watermelon at a fruit ninja convention, Melissa Barrera, the 33-year-old dynamo who rocked as Samantha Carpenter in the series, got the boot from Scream VII faster than you can say “knock knock, who’s there? Unemployment!”
According to the gossip grapevine (and by grapevine, we mean The Hollywood Reporter), the axe fell on Barrera after she took to social media to share her thoughts on the Israel-Palestine conflict. It turns out that Hollywood has a lower tolerance for controversial posts than a toddler has for broccoli.
Variety spilled the beans too, claiming Barrera got the boot because her social media musings labeled Israel as a ‘colonized’ land and flirted with an antisemitic trope that has seen better days – the classic ‘Jews control the media’ gig.
In one post that probably triggered more alarms than a fire drill at a popcorn factory, Barrera exclaimed, “Western media only shows the [Israeli] side. Why do they do that? I will let you deduce for yourself.” Cue the dramatic gasps.
TheWrap joined the lineup, clarifying that it wasn’t Barrera’s bold stance on Palestine or her plea for a ceasefire (a stance supported by 68% of Americans, mind you) that got her the axe. Nope, it was her social media antics that allegedly tap-danced over the line into antisemitism. Talk about stepping on a banana peel!
A month prior, Barrera posted on Instagram: “I too come from a colonized country,” proudly waving the Mexican flag. “Palestine WILL be free,” she declared, throwing in a poetic quote for good measure: “they tried to bury us, they didn’t know we were seeds.” Sounds like someone accidentally planted a comedy garden.
But fear not, dear Scream fans, for the show must go on! Happy Death Day director Christopher Landon is swooping in to rescue the day like a cinematic superhero, taking the reins as the new director. Move over Radio Silence, there’s a new sheriff in town.
As for the film’s production, well, it’s been slower than a snail on a leisurely stroll amid Hollywood strikes. With Barrera out of the picture, Spyglass Entertainment is scrambling to redo their master plan. It’s safe to say the Scream VII saga has more drama than a telenovela marathon. Stay tuned for the next thrilling episode!
Almost all of Melissa Barrera’s IG Stories about Palestine: A thread. pic.twitter.com/DjrbJWt6RQ
— Sam Carpenter The Ghost Slayer (@OoXLR8oO) October 22, 2023