Jenna Ortega has addressed what did not influence her departure from Scream VII.
After appearing in the 2022 Scream reboot and 2023’s Scream VI, Melissa Barrera was removed from the seventh installment of the popular horror series.
Barrera lost her role following frequent posts about the Palestine conflict – she questioned why her social media showed primarily Israeli perspectives on Gaza violence, while also claiming Israel was committing “genocide and ethnic cleansing.”
Following Barrera’s exit, news broke that Jenna Ortega would also leave the franchise. Various explanations circulated regarding why the Wednesday actress wouldn’t return as Tara Carpenter to flee from Ghostface for a third time.
The 22-year-old actress has now clarified the situation.
Ortega told The Cut her exit was unrelated to “pay or scheduling” concerns.
She explained that the sixth film’s directors, Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, had already departed before she made her decision to leave.
She reflected: “The Melissa situation was unfolding, and everything was unraveling. Without that directorial team and the people I’d grown fond of, continuing with Scream VII didn’t align with my professional goals at this point.”
Indeed, regarding the “Melissa situation,” Barrera shared with The Hollywood Reporter last year: “This brings me no joy.”
Like Ortega, Barrera expressed her “deep affection for the franchise,” adding that the outcome was “simply unfortunate” given how events transpired.
The film’s producers – Spyglass Media Group – also issued a statement.
A representative informed Variety that the company “does not tolerate antisemitism or hatred promotion in any form, including false claims of genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion, or anything clearly crossing into hate speech territory.”
Barrera later responded on Instagram: “Above all, I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hatred and prejudice of any kind against any group of people.
“I believe a population should not be equated with its leadership, and that no government should be immune to criticism.
“I continuously pray for an end to casualties and violence, and for peaceful coexistence.
“I will maintain my advocacy for those most vulnerable and continue championing peace, safety, human rights and freedom.
“Remaining silent is not an option I can accept.”