{
  "id": 8196853,
  "title": "Matthew Lillard expresses shame at appearing in Scream 7 after actress fired for anti-Israel posts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/matthew-lillard-expresses-shame-at-appearing-in-scream-7-after",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T07:37:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-909026"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Matthew Lillard, the American actor, expressed regret about his involvement in Scream 7 after actress Melissa Barrera was dismissed from the film for her anti-Israel social media comments. Barrera was fired following posts that criticized Israel's actions in Gaza, labeling them as both genocide and ethnic cleansing. Lillard acknowledged that he was on the \"wrong side of history\" for participating in the movie, despite still liking his role. He lamented the lack of support for Barrera's stance, stating that the entire world should have spoken out in her favor. The controversy surrounding the incident has also prompted backlash against musician Ed Sheeran, following his decision to drop rapper Macklemore from his tour due to the rapper's pro-Palestinian remarks during a performance. Barrera's removal from the film led to Spyglass, the production company, issuing a statement emphasizing their zero-tolerance policy towards antisemitism and hate speech in any form.",
  "summary": "\"She’s on the right side of history,\" Lillard said. \"The whole world should have popped up and said, ‘She’s right.’ And they didn’t. And that’s brutal.\"",
  "key_points": [
    "Matthew Lillard regrets Scream 7 participation after Melissa Barrera's firing.",
    "Melissa Barrera dismissed for anti-Israel social media comments.",
    "Spyglass emphasizes zero-tolerance for antisemitism and hate speech."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Matthew Lillard's expression of shame signals a shift in celebrity response to industry repercussions for outspoken stances on sensitive issues, indicating some actors now prioritize moral accountability over professional obligations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}