Despite being fired from 'Scream 7,' Melissa Barrera received support from some of the original 'Scream' stars at her new movie premiere.
The 33-year-old's latest film, Abigail, hits theaters on Friday, April 19. However, it had a special screening on Wednesday, April 17, at which two original 'Scream'actors and three of Barrera's 'Scream' co-stars made an appearance to support Barrera. This comes months after she was fired from the seventh 'Scream' film due to her stance on the Israel-Hamas war.
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Melissa Barrera Receives Support From Original 'Scream' Actors
Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard, who both played the original Ghost Face as Billy Loomis and Stu Macher, respectively, showed up at the 'Abigail' movie screening to support Barrera despite her firing from the franchise.
Barrera recently spoke on how the new horror film has helped her have the "strength to move forward" and move on from the firing. "It gives me so much strength to move forward and keep doing great stuff [...], and keep making movies and shows for them and giving them more characters to connect with," Barrera told Entertainment Tonight.
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"I'm very excited about it, and 'Abigail' is the beginning of that. I'm excited to share this with the world. I'm so proud of what we did, and I think Matt [and] Tyler are so good at what they do," she added. "I think people want to go to the movies and have fun. Sometimes movies are so serious and depressing because the world can be, but sometimes we [just] want to escape and have fun and leave the theater smiling from ear to ear, and I think that's what 'Abigail' is."
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Skeet Ulrich And Matthew Lillard Spotted At 'Abigail' Movie Premiere
After catching the original 'Scream' actors at the premiere, fans gushed over their continued support for Barrera amid the firing. "It means everything to me that Skeet and Matthew support her. [I] love them," one X user wrote.
"Matthew Lillard proving he's my ultimate GOAT still," another said.
A third expressed, "I love that they came to support her. That’s actually very sweet."
Mason Gooding, Dylan Minnette. Tony Revolori, who starred alongside Barrera in the sixth 'Scream' film, were spotted in the audience as well.
Barrera's new film stars William Catlett, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, and the late Angus Cloud. It will be released on Friday, April 19.
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Melissa Barrera Was Fired From 'Scream 7'
Melissa Barrera made headlines after Spyglass fired her from the upcoming 'Scream' movie due to her " antisemitic" social media posts.
“We have 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,” the company wrote in a statement.
Barrera's post in question claimed that "Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp. Cornering everyone together, with nowhere to go, no electricity no water."
She added, in capital letters, "THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.”
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'Scream' Cast Speaks Out On Barrera's Firing
"After she [spoke out], then a whole bunch of other actors and people in the industry started to do the same thing, right? It was almost like she just did it earlier than everyone else," Panettiere told The Messenger. "You know, a lot of people hadn't really asked her how she felt."
“Melissa is such a bada-- as a human being and as an actress… She was hurt by it, but I think she took it in stride and was very, very gracious about it," she added.
Melissa Barrera Addresses Her Firing
"As a Latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard, and therefore, I have tried to use it to raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need," she began. "Every person on this earth-- regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status -- deserves equal human rights, dignity, and, of course, freedom."
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She added, "I believe a group of people are NOT their leadership, and that no governing body should be above criticism. I pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence, and for peaceful co-existence. I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom."
"Silence is not an option for me," the actress concluded.