Melissa Barrera breaks silence after being fired from Scream VII

Melissa Barrera has broken her silence after her shock axing from the popular franchise due to a controversial social media post.

Melissa Barerra was fired from the new Scream movie. Picture: Unique Nicole/Getty Images

Melissa Barrera has released a statement after getting fired from Scream VII amid her controversial comments on social media about the Israel-Hamas war.

“First and foremost I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people,” Barrera, 33, wrote in a statement posted to her Instagram Story on Wednesday night, reports the New York Post.

“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,” she said.

Barrera portrayed Sam Carpenter in 2022’s Scream, alongside Jenna Ortega, who is also not returning to the franchise for the seventh instalment.

The actress was fired from the new Scream film. Picture: Unique Nicole/Getty Images

She’s now released a statement. Picture: Instagram

Barrera raised eyebrows off-screen last month when she started posting about the war, writing in one Instagram Story, “I too come from a colonised country,” along with a Mexican flag emoji.

“Palestine WILL be free,” she added in her caption, quoting from a poem popular with activists: “They tried to bury us, they didn’t know we were seeds.”

On Wednesday, she continued, “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.”

“I believe a group of people are NOT their leadership, and that no governing body should be above criticism. I pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence, and for peaceful coexistence.”

Barrera (left) appeared alongside Jenna Ortega in the 2022 instalment of the franchise. Picture: Supplied

She concluded, “I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom. Silence is not an option for me.”

A rep for Barrera directed The Post to the actress’ Instagram Story when contacted for comment.

Scream VII director Christopher Landon addressed the news of Barrera’s firing on Tuesday in a since-deleted tweet, writing, “This is my statement. Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.”

Meanwhile, Spyglass Entertainment issued a statement, which reads, “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.”

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Melissa Barrera breaks silence after being fired from Scream VII