Matthew Lillard expresses regret over Scream 7 return

Actor Matthew Lillard has expressed regret and shame over his decision to return to the ‘Scream’ franchise for the seventh installment. During a Q&A session at a 30th-anniversary screening of the original film, Lillard addressed the controversy surrounding the dismissal of co-star Melissa Barrera.

Barrera was terminated from the franchise in late 2023 by production company Spyglass Media Group following social media posts regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict. The studio cited a ‘zero tolerance’ policy for antisemitism and hate speech. Lillard stated that Barrera was ‘on the right side of history’ and criticized the lack of industry-wide support for her when she was fired.

Lillard admitted that his excitement to reprise his role as Stu Macher clouded his judgment at the time. ‘I feel bad about that. I feel ashamed about that. Because in that moment I was so excited to go back, I didn’t really think about Melissa and that journey,’ he said, adding that he felt he was on the ‘wrong side of history’ for not speaking out sooner.