“I’m embarrassed, that’s the truth, Lillard told the audience. “I blew that. I’m on the wrong side of history for that. I still like being in the movie [but] it may not have been the best idea.” Lillard was referring to the fact that Melissa Barrera, the franchise’s protagonist Sam Carpenter for Scream (2022) and Scream VI, was fired in 2023 by producers Spyglass Media Group after making pro-Palestinian statements.
The 56-year-old actor, who returned (in a SPOILER-y capacity) for 2026’s Scream 7, continued, “Melissa Barrera, who’s a beautiful actor, was fired for what she said after the whole Palestinian… what started happening in Israel. It’s really fucking bullshit and really hard and she’s on the right side of history.” At the time of Barrera’s firing, Spyglass representatives accused the actor of “antisemitism” for expressing her disapproval of the actions of the Netanyahu government in Israel, which have resulted in an estimated 73,000 deaths, and which have been termed a genocide by a UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry.
As Lillard said in remarks recorded by an attendee, while speaking out on social issues has been a priority in his life, he is “ashamed” for agreeing to sign on to the series considering Barrera’s unwilling exit. “For me, I have queer kids. If I’m not standing up for queer kids or kids in the trans community then what the fuck am I doing? If I’m not standing up against ICE, then what the fuck am I doing?” By not recognizing that his actions were tacitly approving Berrera’s treatment by the Scream producers, Lillard added, “I went back to do Scream, and I got called out. And I’m like, ‘Oh, fuck. That’s brutal, I feel bad about that. I feel ashamed about that. Because in that moment I was so excited to go back, I didn’t really think about Melissa and that journey. I didn’t say no.”
Lillard is currently starring in Mike Flanagan’s upcoming Carrie television adaptation, which premieres on October 7 on Amazon Prime Video.
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