Pro-Palestine Protesters Demonstrate at ‘Scream 7’ Premiere Over Melissa Barrera’s Removal

Pro-Palestine activists gathered outside Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles during the premiere of Scream 7 to protest the firing of actress Melissa Barrera and to call for a boycott of the film. Demonstrators carried signs criticizing Paramount and urging the public to cancel Paramount+, while voicing support for Barrera, who had previously spoken out in favor of Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. The protest was organized by several groups, including Entertainment Labor for Palestine, CODEPINK LA, Musicians for Palestine, and Jewish Voice for Peace–Los Angeles.

Barrera was removed from the seventh installment of the Scream franchise in November 2023 by Spyglass Media Group after social media posts expressing her views on the conflict. The production company stated at the time that it maintains zero tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech, citing this policy in its decision to drop the actress. Her dismissal led to further shakeups within the production. Co-star Jenna Ortega exited the project shortly afterward, and director Christopher Landon also departed, leaving the sequel’s future temporarily uncertain.

Despite these setbacks, Spyglass moved forward with the film. Kevin Williamson, who wrote the original 1996 Scream film directed by Wes Craven, took over directing duties. The film features the return of franchise stars Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox, alongside Mason Gooding and several new cast members. Scream 7 is scheduled for release on February 27, 2026.

During the premiere, director Kevin Williamson acknowledged the demonstrators, stating that they have the right to be heard. Online reactions to the protest were mixed, with some commenters minimizing the turnout and others arguing that the activists succeeded in drawing attention to their cause.