Dozens of supporters of the Palestinian cause gathered outside the Los Angeles premiere of “Scream 7” on Wednesday evening, transforming the film’s red-carpet event into a politically charged moment linked to the earlier dismissal of actress Melissa Barrera.
The protest took place outside the Paramount Studios lot as guests arrived for the premiere. Demonstrators brandished Palestinian flags and carried signs with messages such as “Cancel Paramount+” and “Stand For Free Speech Boycott Scream 7,” while chanting “Boycott Scream 7” and “Free, free, free Palestine” accompanied by drums and brass instruments. Inside the venue, the noise from the protest was reportedly faint as the cast members posed for photos.
Celebrities like Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox graced the premiere, adding another significant comeback to the franchise amidst increased public attention on the production.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director Kevin Williamson acknowledged noticing the protesters at the event. He remarked, “I saw them, and my heart just stopped. Look, we live in America. Everyone has the right to protest, and everyone should be heard. If you have your truth and want to be heard, you protest. That is your right in this country, and I fully support it.”
Organizers indicated that the demonstration aimed to shed light on what they viewed as the industry’s suppression of pro-Palestinian viewpoints. Various activist groups, including Entertainment Labor for Palestine, CODEPINK LA, and Jewish Voice for Peace–Los Angeles, took part in the protest.
According to a statement from CODEPINK LA, the protest aimed to draw attention to the industry’s alleged censorship of pro-Palestinian voices and its portrayal of Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The controversy largely centers on Barrera being dropped from the sequel in November 2023 after expressing support for Palestine on social media following the October 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict escalation.
The production company, Spyglass Media Group, defended its decision by stating, “Spyglass’ position is crystal clear: We have a zero-tolerance policy for antisemitism or any form of hate incitement, including false claims of genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion, or any language that crosses into hate speech.”
Those behind the “Boycott Scream 7” movement urged the public to refrain from watching the film set for release on February 27. Organizer Nino Testa stated, “We consider Melissa Barrera to be part of the ‘Scream’ community, and it is our duty to speak out when a member of our community is wronged.”
“We reject the use of the beloved franchise as a tool for promoting genocide. We denounce Hollywood’s discriminatory blacklisting and silencing of individuals advocating for a free Palestine.”
As of the time of writing, no responses had been received to requests for comments sent to Paramount and Spyglass.