Matthew Lillard Expresses Regret Over Returning to 'Scream 7' After Melissa Barrera's Firing

Matthew Lillard has voiced his regret about participating in "Scream 7," admitting he felt "embarrassed" and was on the "wrong side of history" after his co-star Melissa Barrera was fired from the film.

Lillard, who reprised his role as Stu Macher, shared his feelings during a Q&A session at a "Scream" 30th anniversary screening. He recalled being excited to return to the franchise but acknowledged he did not adequately consider Barrera's situation when she was dismissed in November 2023.

"I feel bad about that. I feel ashamed about that," Lillard said, according to video circulating on TikTok. "Because in that moment I was so excited to go back, I didn’t really think about Melissa and that journey. I didn’t say no."

Barrera was fired by Spyglass Entertainment, the studio behind the "Scream" franchise, for social media posts she made regarding the conflict between Hamas and Israel. The studio described her comments as “hate speech” and antisemitic.

Lillard stated, "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."

He described Barrera, who played Sam Carpenter in the recent "Scream" installments, as a "beautiful actor" and asserted that "she’s on the right side of history."

Lillard criticized the film industry for its reaction to Barrera's situation, suggesting that while she was ahead of public opinion on certain matters, the broader industry did not offer sufficient support. "When that happened to Melissa, the whole world didn’t pipe up," he noted. "But she was a year early on what the f–k’s going on. But the whole world should have popped up and said, ‘She’s right.’ And they didn’t. And that’s brutal."

Barrera had previously spoken out against franchise veterans, including Lillard, Courteney Cox, and Neve Campbell, for continuing with "Scream 7" after her dismissal. In an interview with Variety, she stated that it was "100 percent" their decision to return and that "they have to live with that."

Despite the controversy and her subsequent absence from "Scream 7," Barrera told Collider in 2024 that she felt satisfied with her role in the franchise. "It was always meant to be two movies for me, ’cause that was my contract, and so everything is perfect," she said.

Barrera also noted that "Scream" fans have continued to support her, attending her Broadway role in "Titanique" and seeking her out for franchise memorabilia. "People who love me from those movies are coming to see the show, and they can’t ever take that away from me," she stated.