Melissa Barrera Removed From 'Scream VII' Cast Over Social Media Posts On Israel-Hamas War

Actress Melissa Barrera has reportedly been dropped from the upcoming horror film "Scream VII" in the wake of controversy surrounding her social media posts related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Barrera took to her IG Stories to slam Israel for treating Gaza "like a concentration camp," calling the war a "genocide" and an "ethnic cleansing."

The "Vida" star's ousting comes after a report that fellow actress and activist Susan Sarandon had been dropped by her Hollywood agency following a comment she made about Jews in America.

According to Deadline, Spyglass Media has decided to remove Barrera from the film after she shared a series of posts on her Instagram account expressing her views on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

"Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp," she wrote in one post on Instagram stories. "Cornering everyone together, with nowhere 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."

In another post, the actress, known for her sterling performance in "In the Heights," shared a placard that read "Palestine WILL be free," going on to add, "They tried to bury us, they didn't know we were seeds."

Her ousting comes after she played a pivotal role in revitalizing the iconic "Scream" franchise, leaving an indelible mark with her performances in "Scream" (2022) and "Scream VI," contributing to the franchise's global box office success.

Barrera took on the lead role of Sam Carpenter in the 2022 installment of the horror series, a film that not only earned critical acclaim but also grossed an impressive $137.7 million worldwide.

She also starred in "Scream VI" and helped it attain global box office success to the tune of about $169 million. Her character resonated with audiences, establishing her as a significant force within the horror genre and playing a crucial role as the older sister to Jenna Ortega's Tera.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, filming had been hampered by the actors and writer's strike, with Spyglass Media now expected to rework plans to accommodate Barrera's exit.

Several of her fans took to social media to stand in solidarity with her as they shared a post from her IG Stories that seemingly addressed reports of her dismissal.

"At the end of the day, I'd rather be excluded for who I include, than be included for who I exclude," Barrera's post read.

Several fans also questioned why freedom of speech is being crushed as they threw their weight in support of the ousted star.

A few fans noted that they "wouldn't be watching the new film," while others called for a "boycott."

Another fan wrote, "Very gross how people like Noah Schnapp and Amy Schumer are still allowed platforms and get to keep their jobs but people like Melissa get fired for speaking up in support of Palestine. We stand with Melissa!"

"It's a freeing feeling knowing you stuck up for someone downtrodden or bullied and got ostracized for it rather than becoming a part of a group for belittling & bullying someone else," A third person stated.

Just like Barrera, Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon found herself without representation after making a comment about Jews in America during a pro-Palestinian protest in NYC last week.

Sarandon's comments were criticized for perpetuating harmful stereotypes and engaging in what some have characterized as an anti-Jewish tirade.

"There are a lot of people afraid of being Jewish at this time and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country," she said.

In response, UTA has now reportedly parted ways with her, as a source shared that several staffers were unhappy with her comments.

Both Sarandon and Barrera were among a long list of stars who signed a letter to President Joe Biden, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.