About two dozen demonstrators gathered outside Paramount Studios, urging fans to boycott the horror sequel.
The red carpet for Scream 7 wasn’t just about Ghostface and flashbulbs — it was also marked by chants, drums and protest signs.
On Wednesday night, as cast and filmmakers arrived at the Paramount Studios lot in Los Angeles to celebrate the latest chapter in the long-running horror franchise, a group of roughly 25 protesters gathered outside the gates.
Waving Palestinian flags and holding bullhorns, demonstrators called for a boycott of the film and the streaming service Paramount+.
Their message centered on support for actress Melissa Barrera, who starred in 2022’s Scream reboot and 2023’s Scream VI. Barrera was fired from the franchise in 2023 after sharing social media posts criticizing Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Producers at Spyglass Media Group said at the time that her posts crossed a line into antisemitism, citing what they described as references to genocide, ethnic cleansing and Holocaust distortion.
Outside the premiere, protesters framed the issue differently. Some held signs reading “Stand for Free Speech,” while others chanted, “Palestine will live forever!” and “Cancel Paramount+.”
The demonstration remained peaceful but underscored the lasting fallout from Barrera’s dismissal.
Inside the event, director Kevin Williamson addressed the situation while speaking on the carpet. Williamson, who wrote the original 1996 Scream and stepped in to direct this installment, acknowledged the broader tensions behind the protest.
“We live in a world where a lot of bad things are happening,” he said, adding that people want their voices heard. While he questioned whether canceling a streaming service would create change, he emphasized that individuals should follow their conscience.
The road to Scream 7 has been anything but smooth. After Barrera’s exit, co-star Jenna Ortega also left the project, citing scheduling conflicts. Original director Christopher Landon departed following online backlash and threats.
The script was reworked, bringing franchise heroine Sidney Prescott, played by Neve Campbell, back to center stage.
As the film opens in theaters Friday, the franchise once known mainly for its scares now finds itself at the center of a larger cultural conversation — one that extends well beyond Woodsboro.
