Matthew Lillard Says He’s Ashamed to Have Returned to Scream 7 After Melissa Barrera’s Firing

Overview

• Matthew Lillard told a fan Q&A on Wednesday that he feels “ashamed” and “embarrassed” for rejoining Scream 7 after Melissa Barrera was dropped from the film, saying she was “on the right side of history.”
• Barrera was removed from the project in late 2023 after social media posts calling for a Gaza cease-fire prompted producer Spyglass to say it had zero tolerance for antisemitism or incitement of hate.
• Her dismissal triggered major production changes, including director Christopher Landon and co-star Jenna Ortega leaving and a rework of Scream 7’s story focus before the film was released.
• Scream 7 opened on February 27, 2026, and grossed about $207 million worldwide despite the controversy, and Scream 8 is now in development with writers Lilla and Nora Zuckerman attached.
• Lillard’s remarks revive questions about how studios handle actors’ political speech, put pressure on fellow cast members to publicly reckon with the decision, and keep attention on Barrera’s ongoing career moves outside the franchise.