‘Free Palestine. Boycott Scream 7.’

Looking at the comments on the official Scream Instagram page, you’ll find some fans aren’t thrilled with the upcoming film. While many are excited about the first trailer, a number of posts use the hashtag “#boycottscream7.” Disagreement among fans has always been part of the Scream series – the 2022 film even used that anger as a plot point – but the criticism surrounding Scream 7 is different. It’s more serious than just complaints about casting. The account @boycottscream7 explained that 22 arts and advocacy groups from around the world are calling for a boycott, arguing the film supports harmful practices like genocide and apartheid. They are urging people to boycott Scream 7 in support of Palestine.

The latest Scream movie was expected to be a huge hit, but it’s become the center of a lot of disagreement. Here’s a look at why people are calling for a boycott, who’s leading the effort, and what this could mean for the film’s future.

Where did the Scream 7 backlash start?

After the success of Scream VI in 2023, anticipation was high for the next installment. However, production faced a major setback in November 2023 when Melissa Barrera, a key star of both the Scream reboot and Scream VI (playing Sam Carpenter, the daughter of Billy Loomis), was unexpectedly fired. The reason was a series of social media posts criticizing Israel following the October 7th attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza. Spyglass Media Group claimed one post in particular was antisemitic, stating: “Western media only shows the [Israeli] side. Why do they do that, I will let you deduce for yourself.”

Spyglass has strongly condemned antisemitism and hate speech in a statement to Variety. The company stated it will not tolerate any expression of hate, including false claims about genocide, ethnic cleansing, the distortion of the Holocaust, or any other blatantly hateful content.

Barrera shared a statement on Instagram condemning both antisemitism and Islamophobia, and all forms of hate and prejudice. She expressed her deep sorrow over the violence and said she is praying for peace and an end to the loss of life. Barrera affirmed her commitment to speaking out for those in need and advocating for human rights, freedom, and safety, stating she will not remain silent.

What was the fallout from Barrera’s firing?

Originally, Melissa Barrera was set to lead Scream 7, but her firing caused major problems for the film. Shortly after, Jenna Ortega, who played Tara in the previous two movies, also announced she wouldn’t return. While the studio initially blamed Ortega’s busy schedule with Wednesday, she later explained to The Cut in May 2025 that she left after Barrera was fired, and following the departure of the directors from Scream VI. Ortega said that with Barrera gone and the directing team also leaving, she didn’t feel it was the right project for her at that point in her career.

Following the firing of Jenna Ortega, director Christopher Landon also decided to leave the project. He explained in an interview for Ashley Cullins’ upcoming book, Your Favorite Scary Movie: How the Scream Films Rewrote the Rules of Horror, that his decision came about a week later. He felt the script was so focused on Ortega’s character that without her, the film he’d envisioned no longer existed. He hadn’t signed on to make just any Scream movie, but a specific one, and when that version was cancelled, he chose to leave. Landon also revealed he received death threats online due to the backlash over Ortega’s firing, which led him to publicly announce his departure.

When did calls for a boycott start?

Spyglass faced immediate criticism after firing Melissa Barrera from the Scream movies. Groups supporting free speech and Palestinian rights strongly condemned the studio’s decision. In December 2023, a fan-led boycott effort gained traction on Instagram under the account @boycottscream7, sharing posts explaining their reasoning. One post stated that Spyglass fired Barrera because she spoke out against the bombing of Gaza, and falsely accused her of antisemitism. The post characterized the firing as a racist act intended to silence peaceful protests and justify violence against Palestinians.

Even before the first trailer for Scream 7 was released, there was some talk online about people wanting to boycott the film. This started when it was announced that Kevin Williamson, the original writer, was directing and Neve Campbell was returning as Sidney Prescott. But the boycott gained more attention from major news outlets after the trailer debuted in October 2025.

Who is supporting the boycott?

Over 20 groups are now calling for a boycott of Scream 7, including organizations like the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement (BDS)/Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), Film Workers for Palestine, Code Pink, and Jewish Voice for Peace – Los Angeles. Many Scream fans are also joining the boycott, sharing their support online and saying they won’t be seeing the new movie.

What has Melissa Barrera said about the boycott?

In an interview with The Independent in November 2024, timed with the release of her film Your Monster, Jenna Ortega admitted that losing her role in the Scream movies was incredibly difficult. She described it as the toughest year of her life, a time when she had to rethink everything, and even felt like her career was over.

When asked about the differing reactions to the new Scream movie – some fans were thrilled with Neve Campbell’s return, while others weren’t interested – Jenna Ortega told The Independent that you can’t please everyone. She explained that some people will enjoy a continuation of the story, while others will feel it harms the original. “If they want to see the next one, great. If not, that’s okay too,” she said.

She explained that it’s important to live by your own principles. This comes down to your personal values and morals, and whether you can keep those separate from your creative work. Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to decide how to act.

What have the Scream 7 cast and creative team said about Barrera’s firing or the boycott?

There hasn’t been much public discussion about the situation, which is understandable considering the consequences Melissa Barrera faced for speaking out. Jasmin Savoy Brown, who plays Mindy Meeks-Martin in Scream 7, offered the closest thing to a statement in an interview with Ashley Cullin for Your Favorite Scary Movie. Brown described the past year since Barrera’s firing as “really sad and stressful,” adding that actors are often expected to be as knowledgeable about politics as actual politicians. She also pointed out that in today’s online world, many people believe they’re experts on everything, which isn’t always true. More importantly, Brown emphasized a distinction between discussing politics and advocating for those who are marginalized, stating it’s a matter of human rights, not just political debate.

Cullin notes that, according to people involved with the Scream movies she interviewed, Jenna Ortega’s firing felt premature. They generally agreed that Ortega had good intentions and that Spyglass should have tried talking to her before letting her go.

Interestingly, Jamie Kennedy, who played Randy Meeks in the original Scream movies, was one of the few actors from the series to publicly support Jenna Ortega after her firing. However, Kennedy’s defense wasn’t based on the issues in Palestine, but rather on his opposition to “cancel culture.” In a May 2025 interview with Fox News, he stated that Ortega “should have never been fired,” explaining that she’s entitled to her own beliefs, as are others who work on set. He described it as a very difficult topic to discuss today and praised her courage for sharing her views, suggesting that anyone who disagrees should simply talk to her directly.

At the premiere of Scream 7 on February 25th, director Kevin Williamson responded to questions about a boycott and protests in support of Palestine that were happening outside. He told Variety that he understands people wanting to express their feelings about difficult events happening in the world, saying, “My heart goes out to them.” While he wasn’t sure canceling Paramount+ was the right approach, he emphasized that everyone should follow their conscience and do what they believe is best.

Are there other reasons to boycott Scream 7?

The dismissal of Melissa Barrera is the most prominent issue, but it’s not the sole reason the upcoming film is facing criticism. Paramount, after merging with Skydance in August 2025, has been vocal about its stance against anti-Israel views. Last September, the company publicly denounced a pledge signed by nearly 4,000 industry professionals to boycott Israeli films – a pledge Barrera had also signed. This position aligns with the views of the Ellison family, as Paramount’s CEO, David Ellison, is the son of Larry Ellison, a billionaire who strongly supports Israel and is close friends with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Larry Ellison’s increasing control over TikTok has also sparked accusations that the platform is limiting content supportive of Palestine.

Beyond the issues with the Ellison family, Scream 7 has faced criticism for other reasons. The film partnered with Kalshi, a platform where people bet on future events, to create “survival odds” for the characters, which some found disturbing given the prevalence of online gambling. A collaboration with Meta AI also drew negative reactions. One user on X (formerly Twitter) expressed concern, saying the film’s marketing – involving issues like Zionism, AI, and now gambling – was increasingly problematic and embarrassing for those involved.

Is the boycott going to actually affect Scream 7’s box office?

Whether or not a planned boycott affected the film’s performance is debatable. While The Daily Mail reported that a boycott by pro-Palestinian activists seemed unsuccessful, Scream 7 is still expected to have a strong opening weekend, potentially earning between $30 and $40 million. However, this is lower than the $44.4 million earned by Scream VI. It’s unclear if the lower numbers are due to the absence of Jenna Ortega or the boycott. Ultimately, both sides will likely interpret the box office results to support their own arguments – those who called for a boycott will see it as either a failure or a success, depending on their perspective.

The movie Snow White, released in 2025, was a major disappointment for Disney, costing the studio $170 million. Some people blamed the film’s poor performance on its star, Rachel Zegler, because of her criticism of Israel, Donald Trump, and his supporters. However, groups supporting the boycott movement claim the film flopped due to their boycott, which was prompted by Gal Gadot’s involvement – they consider her a strong supporter of the Israeli military. It’s important to note that these are just claims, and it will likely be difficult to definitively prove what caused the film’s failure. Similarly, after the situation with Scream 7 is resolved, those who support and oppose the boycott will likely make strong statements that are hard to verify. What is clear, though, is that the firing of actor Melissa Barrera has significantly impacted Scream 7 and the future of the Scream franchise, and many fans feel this change has permanently damaged the series.

2026-02-27 02:56