Matthew Lillard is looking back at his return to the Scream franchise with complicated feelings.
During a recent fan Q&A, the actor said he feels “embarrassed” that he agreed to reprise his role as Stu Macher in Scream 7 without fully considering Melissa Barrera’s controversial firing from the film.
Barrera, who led 2022’s Scream and its 2023 sequel, was dropped from the seventh installment in November 2023 after sharing social media posts in support of Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war. Lillard told the audience that he believes she was “on the right side of history.”
Lillard Connects Speaking Out to Supporting His Queer Children
In footage from the Q&A shared on TikTok, Lillard first discussed why he believes people have a responsibility to speak up for others, even when doing so may carry personal or professional consequences.
“It’s just human, it’s like who we are … I don’t know what else to do,” Lillard said. “For me … I have queer kids; if I’m not standing up for queer kids or kids in the trans community, what the f**k am I doing?”
The Five Nights at Freddy’s actor then turned to Barrera’s exit from the franchise, calling what happened to her “really f**king bullshit and really hard.”
“She’s on the right side of history,” he said. “And when they start coming after your job, sometimes things are worth it.”
Lillard also acknowledged that Barrera did not receive the level of public support he believes she deserved at the time.
“What happened to Melissa, the whole world didn’t pipe up,” he said. “She was like a year early on what the f**k’s going on, but the whole world should have piped up and said, ‘She’s right,’ and they didn’t. And that’s brutal.”
Why Lillard Regrets Saying Yes to ‘Scream 7’
Lillard originated the role of Stu Macher in Wes Craven’s 1996 slasher classic Scream. His return in Scream 7, released in February, marked a major comeback for one of the franchise’s most memorable characters.
However, Lillard said the excitement of receiving that call kept him from thinking more deeply about the circumstances surrounding the movie.
After being criticized for participating, he said he understood why fans questioned his decision.
“I’m like, ‘Oh f**k, that’s brutal.’ I feel bad about that, I feel shame about that,” Lillard said. “Because in that moment, I was so excited to go back, I didn’t really think about Melissa and the journey, and I didn’t say ‘no.’ And I’m embarrassed, and that’s the truth.”
His comments do not undo the decision, but they offer a candid acknowledgment of the conflict between celebrating a career milestone and recognizing the larger controversy attached to it.
What Happened With Melissa Barrera?
Spyglass Media Group fired Barrera in November 2023 after she posted about Palestine on social media. At the time, the company said it had “zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form,” including what it described as false references to genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Barrera’s departure was one of several major changes to the sequel. Jenna Ortega later left the project, reportedly due to scheduling, and director Christopher Landon exited as well. Neve Campbell ultimately returned as Sidney Prescott after sitting out Scream VI because of a salary dispute.