Pro-Palestine Activists Protest 'Scream 7' Premiere Over Melissa Barrera Firing

Activists call for boycott of the film after the production company dropped the actress for her support of Palestine.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Protesters gathered outside the Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles during the premiere of 'Scream 7' to show their support for Palestine and call for a boycott of the film. The protest was led by several activist groups, including Entertainment Labor for Palestine, CODEPINK LA, Musicians for Palestine, and Jewish Voice for Peace-Los Angeles. The activists were protesting the firing of actress Melissa Barrera from the film after she expressed support for Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war.

Why it matters

The protest highlights the ongoing tensions between the entertainment industry and political issues, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The firing of Barrera over her political views has raised concerns about censorship and the industry's willingness to punish actors for speaking out on controversial topics.

The details

In November 2023, Spyglass Media Group, the production company behind 'Scream 7', fired Barrera from reprising her role in the film after she expressed support for Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war. The company stated that they had 'zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form' and dropped her from the project. Barrera's co-star Jenna Ortega also dropped out of the film, and the original director, Christopher Landon, exited the project as well. Despite these departures, Spyglass continued with the film, tapping Kevin Williamson to direct.

  • The protest took place outside the Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles during the premiere of 'Scream 7' on February 26, 2026.
  • Barrera was fired from 'Scream 7' in November 2023 after expressing support for Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war.

The players

Melissa Barrera

An actress who was fired from 'Scream 7' after expressing support for Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war.

Spyglass Media Group

The production company behind 'Scream 7' that fired Barrera from the film, citing a 'zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form'.

Entertainment Labor for Palestine

One of the activist groups that led the protest outside the 'Scream 7' premiere.

CODEPINK LA

One of the activist groups that led the protest outside the 'Scream 7' premiere.

Musicians for Palestine

One of the activist groups that led the protest outside the 'Scream 7' premiere.

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What’s next

The activists have called for a boycott of 'Scream 7' and Paramount+ in response to Barrera's firing, and it remains to be seen if their protest will have any impact on the film's release or the company's policies.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the ongoing tensions between the entertainment industry and political issues, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The firing of Melissa Barrera over her political views has raised concerns about censorship and the industry's willingness to punish actors for speaking out on controversial topics.