Scream 2's Jerry O'Connell Explains Cringeworthy Musical Number

The actor took responsibility for his character's poor singing performance in the horror sequel.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Jerry O'Connell, who played Derek in the 1997 horror sequel Scream 2, recently took to social media to explain his character's cringeworthy musical number in the film. O'Connell admitted he did not take singing lessons for the scene and was very nervous, which he believes came through in the final performance. The actor took full responsibility for the poorly received sequence, in which his character Derek sings "I Think I Love You" to Sidney Prescott.

Why it matters

The Scream franchise is beloved by fans, and moments like Derek's musical number have become iconic, if not a bit cringeworthy. O'Connell's candid explanation provides insight into the behind-the-scenes process and his approach to the scene, which he felt was more natural for the character even if it didn't result in a great vocal performance.

The details

In the scene, O'Connell's character Derek, a college student and frat bro, sings the 1970s hit "I Think I Love You" to Sidney Prescott in the school cafeteria. The actor recently took to Twitter to explain his thought process, saying he tried to play it in a natural manner without taking singing lessons, as he was very nervous and felt that came through in the final performance. O'Connell acknowledged that many fans did not like the sequence, but he stands by his decision to approach it authentically rather than trying to sound polished.

  • Scream 2 was released in 1997.

The players

Jerry O'Connell

An American actor who played the character of Derek in the 1997 horror sequel Scream 2.

Wes Craven

The late filmmaker who directed the first two Scream movies.

Neve Campbell

The actress who played the lead role of Sidney Prescott in the Scream franchise.

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What they’re saying

“Hand up, a lot of people do not like the cafeteria/singing scene. I tried to do it in a natural manner and did not take a singing lesson. I was very nervous and people probably feel that come through. I am not a singer. I take full responsibility.”

— Jerry O'Connell, Actor (Twitter)

What’s next

It remains to be seen if Jerry O'Connell's character Derek or his cringeworthy musical number will be referenced in the upcoming Scream 7, which is set to focus on the continued trauma of Sidney Prescott.

The takeaway

Jerry O'Connell's honest reflection on his performance in the Scream 2 musical sequence provides valuable insight into the creative process and the actor's approach to the scene. While the moment may be cringeworthy for some fans, O'Connell's willingness to own it and explain his rationale helps humanize the experience and underscores the importance of authenticity, even in the face of potential criticism.