Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega recently joined their fellow Scream cast members at MPTF’s 17th Annual Evening Before Gala. This reunion brought together the “Core 4,” including Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding, who have been part of the film franchise since the reboot with Scream V and Scream VI. The event also featured Liana Liberato, Tony Revolori, Jack Quaid, and Barrera’s on-screen father and OG Ghostface, Skeet Ulrich. The video below captures the excitement of their reunion.
However, the joy of the reunion was short-lived for Melissa Barrera. She was controversially dropped from the upcoming Scream VII after expressing her opinion on the Israel-Hamas conflict through a social media post. Spyglass Media, the production company, accused Barrera of promoting antisemitism and stated that they have a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech or any form of incitement. In a statement, they condemned false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, and Holocaust distortion.
Days later, Barrera felt compelled to reiterate her stance on the matter, emphasizing that her platform allows her to raise awareness about important issues and advocate for those in need. She made it clear that she would not remain silent and would continue to speak out for peace, safety, human rights, and freedom.
Jenna Ortega, who portrayed Barrera’s sister on-screen, made headlines shortly after by dropping out of Scream VII as well. Ortega cited scheduling conflicts with her Netflix series Wednesday as the reason for her departure. It is uncertain whether this conflict truly caused her exit or if it was related to the controversy surrounding Barrera’s departure. Nevertheless, Ortega’s departure added to the growing turmoil surrounding the film.
Adding to the chaos, Scream 7 director Christopher Landon announced his decision to step down from the project. Landon revealed on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he had formally exited the film weeks ago. He described his time working on the film as a dream job that turned into a nightmare. Landon expressed his heartbreak for everyone involved in the situation.
With two key cast members and the director leaving the project, the future of Scream VII remains uncertain. The controversy surrounding Melissa Barrera’s alleged antisemitic stance and Jenna Ortega’s departure due to scheduling conflicts has undoubtedly had a significant impact on the production. Spyglass Media will need to find replacements for both actresses and a new director to steer the franchise in a new direction.
The unexpected exit of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega from the Scream franchise has created a storm of controversy and uncertainty. The clash between their personal beliefs and the production company’s zero-tolerance policy regarding hate speech has resulted in their removal from the upcoming film. With the director also stepping down, the future of Scream VII hangs in the balance. Only time will tell how the franchise moves forward from this unforeseen setback.
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