Pro-Palestine protest erupts at ‘Scream 7’ premiere

Dozens of pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered outside the Los Angeles premiere of “Scream 7” on Wednesday night, turning the film’s red-carpet celebration into a politically charged flashpoint tied to the earlier dismissal of actor Melissa Barrera.

The protest unfolded outside the Paramount Studios lot, where attendees arrived for the launch event. Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and carried placards reading “Cancel Paramount+” and “Stand For Free Speech Boycott Scream 7,” while chants of “Boycott Scream 7” and “Free, free, free Palestine” echoed alongside drums and brass instruments. Inside the venue, however, the noise reportedly reached the red carpet only faintly as cast members posed for photographs.

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Stars including Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox attended the premiere, marking another major franchise return amid heightened public scrutiny surrounding the production.

Director Kevin Williamson, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, acknowledged seeing the protesters during the event. “I saw them and my heart just sort of stopped. Look, we live in America. Everyone has a right to protest, and everyone should be heard. And if you have your truth and if you want to stand up and be heard, you protest. That is your right in this country, and I stand by it. I support that 100 percent.”

Organisers said the demonstration sought to spotlight what they described as industry censorship of pro-Palestinian voices. The protest involved activist groups including Entertainment Labor for Palestine, CODEPINK LA and Jewish Voice for Peace–Los Angeles.

According to a CODEPINK LA statement, the action aimed to call “attention to the industry’s widespread silencing of pro-Palestinian voices and its whitewashing of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.”

Much of the backlash centres on Barrera’s removal from the sequel in November 2023 after she posted messages supporting Palestine on social media following the October 2023 escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas.

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Production company Spyglass Media Group defended its decision at the time, stating, “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.”

Activists behind the “Boycott Scream 7” campaign urged audiences to avoid the film ahead of its scheduled February 27 release. Organiser Nino Testa said in a statement, “We believe that Melissa Barrera is a part of the ‘Scream’ community and that it’s our responsibility to speak out when a member of our community has been harmed.”

“We refuse to let the franchise we love be used as propaganda for a genocide. We reject Hollywood’s racist blacklisting and censorship of any person who advocates for a free Palestine.”

At the time of publication, requests for comment sent to Paramount and Spyglass had not received a response.