'Scream 7' fans rally behind ousted actress Melissa Barrera following trailer release

Barrera was dismissed over comments in support of Palestine after which Jenna Ortega also exited the franchise

While the Scream 7 trailer that released yesterday teased the long-awaited instalment in the iconic franchise, fans appeared to be less enthused about the next movie in the saga due to the absence of Melissa Barrera who was fired from the franchise almost two years prior.

Viewers flooded social media about Barrera's dismissal over her comments on the Gaza genocide and the “atrocities being committed against Palestinians,” as well as Jenna Ortega‘s subsequent exit.

One fan wrote, “This is missing two very important women…” referring to the two stars. Another said, “Where the scream franchise ended for me,” under an image from Scream VI.

Others tried to divert attention toward Barrera's other projects including The Copenhagen Test which stars the actress alongside Simu Liu and premiere's on December 27.

Additionally, the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS ) has begun a movement against the sequel, which is joined by 22 arts and advocacy organizations.

After Barrera's comments in November 2023, Spyglass Media released a statement about “zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”

Soon after, Ortega left the franchise, noting that the sequel “was all kind of falling apart” without Barrera to play its new ‘final girl’ Sam Carpenter.

Apart from Ortega and Barrera, Scream 7 features returning cast members Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Scott Foley, Matthew Lillard, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding. Newcomers include Joel McHale, Isabel May, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Anna Camp, Mark Consuelos and Ethan Embry.

Directed by Kevin Williamson, Scream 7 is set to hit theaters on February 27, 2026.