Matthew Lillard admitted he has regrets about returning to Scream in the aftermath of Melissa Barrera‘s firing.
During a recent screening for the original Scream’s 30th anniversary, Lillard, 56, received a fan question about speaking out on politics as an actor, to which he replied, “I don’t know how else to do it.”
Lillard pointed out that there are many social issues that hit close to home for him.
“For me, I have queer kids. If I’m not standing up for queer kids or kids in the trans community, then what the f*** am I doing?” he asked. “If I’m not standing up against ICE, then what the f*** am I doing?”
Despite often advocating for important causes, Lillard confessed that it isn’t “easy all the time” to take a stand. He went on to reference the “really f***ing bulls***” situation involving Barrera, 36, who was fired from the franchise after voicing her support for Palestine.
“And [it is] really hard, and she’s on the right side of history. When they start coming after your job, sometimes things are worth it,” he said. “When that happened to Melissa, the whole world didn’t pipe up. But she was a year early on what the f***’s going on. But the whole world should have popped up and said, ‘She’s right.’ And they didn’t. And that’s brutal.”
While reflecting on the controversy, Lillard acknowledged his own silence.
Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera in ‘Scream VI.’ Philippe Bosse / Paramount Pictures / Courtesy of Everett Collection
“I went back to do Scream, and I got called out. And I’m like, ‘Oh, f***. That’s brutal,’” he continued. “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.”
He concluded: “I didn’t say no. I’m embarrassed. That’s the truth … 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.”
Before Scream 7 began filming, news broke in November 2023 that Barrera was fired after speaking out on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Spyglass Media Group, the production company behind the newest batch of Scream films, subsequently denied that Barrera’s pro-Palestine comments were what caused her exit.
Barrera later broke her silence about no longer playing Sam Carpenter.
“First and foremost I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people,” she wrote via her Instagram Story in November 2023, noting she felt a “responsibility” to speak out. “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. 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.”
Amid the backlash, Jenna Ortega didn’t return to the franchise in the role of Tara Carpenter. Director Christopher Landon, who was set to succeed Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, later pulled out as well.
Kevin Williamson, who wrote the original Scream, Scream 2 and Scream 4, subsequently returned to direct the horror franchise for the first time. Neve Campbell came back after previously sitting out the sixth movie due to failed salary negotiations with the studio.
During an interview with Variety in May, Barrera was asked whether she thought her former costars were “crossing the picket line” by returning to the franchise that dropped her.
“Oh, one hundred percent,” she replied. “I think they all are. And they have to live with that.”
Barrera continued: “The only way they were able to make that movie after what happened was to nostalgia-bait as much as possible.”
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