Anti-Israel protest outside Scream 7 premiere; director says ‘everyone has a right to
Demonstrators gathered outside the event at Paramount Studios, attended by the film’s creators and stars, chanting in support of free speech and against the studio. The protest came more than two years after Barrera was dismissed from the project over social media posts about the war between Israel and Hamas.
According to Deadline, one sign read, “Paramount has a blacklist of actors who criticize Israel” — an allegation directed in recent months at David Ellison, the pro-Israel owner of Skydance, which acquired Paramount in November.
In November 2023, Barrera was fired from “Scream 7” after making sharply critical remarks about Israel and the war in Gaza. “Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp,” the Mexican actress wrote in an Instagram story she shared. “Cornering everyone together, with nowhere to go, no electricity no water…people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.”
Subsequently, her co-star in the franchise, Jenna Ortega, withdrew from the seventh installment — reportedly because of scheduling conflicts, though her departure was widely linked to Barrera’s firing. Director Christopher Landon also exited the project and was replaced by Kevin Williamson, creator of the original “Scream” franchise.
“We live in America,” Williamson told Deadline on the red carpet when asked about the protest unfolding nearby. “Everyone has a right to protest and everyone should be heard. And if you have your truth and if you want to stand up and be heard, you protest. That is your right in this country, and I stand by it. I support that 100 percent.”
First Appeared on
Source link
