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Protests Mark "Scream 7" Premiere Amidst Boycott Calls and Production Changes

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"Scream 7" Premiere Met with Pro-Palestine Protests

The premiere of the film "Scream 7" at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles on Wednesday was met with significant protests. Organized by several pro-Palestine groups, the demonstrations called for a boycott of the film, citing the dismissal of actress Melissa Barrera and broader concerns about the entertainment industry's stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. These events unfolded against a backdrop of notable production changes for the film, including shifts in its cast and directorial team.

The protests aimed to spotlight the dismissal of actress Melissa Barrera and broader industry concerns regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Premiere Protest Details

Approximately 25 to dozens of pro-Palestine protestors gathered outside Paramount Studios during the "Scream 7" premiere. Participants prominently displayed Palestinian flags and signs bearing messages such as "Cancel Paramount+" and "Stand For Free Speech Boycott Scream 7."

Chants including "Boycott Scream 7," "Free, free, free Palestine," "Paramount, Paramount, what do you say?", and "Palestine will live forever!" resonated through the area. The demonstration was further amplified by musical instruments, drums, and bullhorns, with the sounds faintly audible from the red carpet where the film's cast was present.

The protest was organized by Entertainment Labor for Palestine, CODEPINK LA, and Jewish Voice for Peace-Los Angeles.

Director's Response

"Scream 7" director Kevin Williamson addressed the protest during the premiere, expressing his support for the demonstrators' right to free expression.

"Everyone has a right to protest and everyone should be heard... That is your right in this country, and I stand by it. I support that 100 percent."

He further commented that "many people desire to voice their concerns about global events," expressing empathy for their efforts.

Background: Melissa Barrera's Dismissal and Boycott Calls

A primary motivation for the protest was the dismissal of actress Melissa Barrera from "Scream 7" in November 2023. Barrera's removal followed her social media posts supporting Palestine after events in October 2023. Her posts reportedly included criticism of Israel, allegations of "genocide and ethnic cleansing," and a repost from Jewish Currents Magazine regarding the distortion of the Holocaust to promote the Israeli arms industry.

At the time of her dismissal, Spyglass Media Group, the company behind the franchise, issued a clear statement:

"Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: 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."

Organizers, including CODEPINK LA, stated the protest aimed to draw attention to "the industry’s widespread silencing of pro-Palestinian voices and its whitewashing of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza." Nino Testa, an organizer for Boycott Scream 7, stated the group believes Barrera is part of the 'Scream' community and that it is their responsibility to speak out when a member is perceived to have been harmed. "We refuse to let the franchise we love be used as propaganda for a genocide. We reject Hollywood’s racist blacklisting and censorship of any person who advocates for a free Palestine," Testa added.

Paramount and Spyglass had not provided a comment on the premiere protest by the time of the original publication.

Subsequent Production Changes

Following Melissa Barrera’s departure, "Scream 7" experienced several significant production changes:

  • Jenna Ortega's Exit: Co-star Jenna Ortega exited the project, citing scheduling conflicts. Another report stated she attributed her departure to the sequel "falling apart" without Barrera.
  • Christopher Landon's Departure: Original director Christopher Landon also withdrew from the project, attributing his decision to receiving death threats, including those targeting his children, following Barrera’s firing.
  • Script Rewrites: The film's script was subsequently rewritten.
  • Neve Campbell's Return: In March 2024, Neve Campbell was brought back to reprise her role as Sidney Prescott, a character who had not appeared in "Scream VI" (2023) due to a reported pay dispute.
  • New Director: Kevin Williamson, who was a writer for the original "Scream" (1996), assumed the role of director for the new installment.

"Scream 7" was set for release on February 27.