Melissa Barrera has come a long way since she was fired from the Shout franchise and blacklisted from the industry after being accused of anti-Semitism for speaking out against the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a new interview with Variety posted on May 6, the 35-year-old actress reflected on the repercussions of her “cancellation” and how she, being a woman of color without enough influence in the industry, was “the perfect scapegoat.”
Barrera did it Shout makes his debut in the franchise’s fifth installment in 2022 as Sam Carpenter opposite Jenna Ortega as his sister, Tara Carpenter. The duo reprized their roles for Scream 6 in 2023, but the Wednesday The star left the franchise shortly after Barrera’s firing.
THE Variety The interviewer asked Barrera if anyone had asked for his support, noting that “at least Jenna Ortega dropped out.” But Barrera’s response was telling. “That’s not the reality of things…” she said, shaking her head.
Barrera explained that although she “received messages of support from people in the industry,” no significant “action” was ultimately taken. “Private messages without action mean nothing,” she noted.
The actress revealed she went through a “tortuous ten months” without any offers until rapper Boots Riley offered her a role in his film, I love boosters. Although things have definitely improved for her career, Barrera notes that she’s “still stuck in certain places to this day.”
After her firing, Barrera needed “a break from all the bullshit that is Hollywood” and began focusing on Broadway, where she currently stars in Titanic like Rose.
But the Shout the franchise continued without Barrera, releasing its seventh installment in February 2026. But Barrera doesn’t feel like he’s missing out on much. “I know [it sucked]. And I think they lied about the numbers. I don’t think it makes that much money.
She then blasted Spyglass Media Group, acknowledging that they were “mangy” for bringing back original cast members, including Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Matthew Lillard.
“Oh, a hundred percent. I think they all are [scabby]. And they have to live with that,” she said. “The only way they could make this movie after what happened was to bait as much nostalgia as possible.”
