Matthew Lillard says he regrets returning to the Scream franchise for Scream 7, declaring that he feels “ashamed” of his decision after Melissa Barrera was fired from the film over social media posts concerning Israel and Gaza.
Lillard, who famously played Stu Macher in Wes Craven’s original Scream, finally returned to the franchise three decades later in Scream 7. But speaking during a Q&A tied to the original movie’s 30th anniversary, the actor said his excitement over returning prevented him from seriously considering the circumstances surrounding the movie.
“I feel bad about that. I feel ashamed about that,” Lillard said, according to Variety.
He eventually offered an even more dramatic assessment of his decision.
“I blew that. I’m on the wrong side of history for that,” Lillard said, while adding that he still enjoyed appearing in the movie.
Lillard Defends Melissa Barrera
The controversy dates back to November 2023, when Spyglass Media Group fired Barrera after the actress made a series of social media posts about Israel and Gaza.
Barrera, who played Sam Carpenter in 2022’s Scream and 2023’s Scream VI, had been positioned as one of the franchise’s new central characters. Among other statements, Barrera accused Israel of atrocities and compared conditions in Gaza to Germany in the 1940s.
Melissa Barrera in Scream (2022) – Paramount
Spyglass responded at the time with a statement maintaining that the company had “zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form,” specifically pointing to what it described as false references to past atrocities and rhetoric it believed crossed into hate speech.
Lillard now says Barrera was correct.
Speaking about the controversy, the actor called what happened to Barrera “really fu**ing bulls**t” and said she was “on the right side of history.”
Lillard also argued that more people should have defended Barrera when she was removed from the franchise.
“But the whole world should have popped up and said, ‘She’s right,’” he said.
‘I’m Embarrassed’
Lillard then turned the criticism on himself.
The actor acknowledged that he ultimately agreed to participate in the revamped Scream 7 despite the circumstances surrounding Barrera’s departure.
Matthew Lillard in Scream – Paramount
“I was so excited to go back, I didn’t really think about Melissa and that journey,” Lillard explained. “I didn’t say no. I’m embarrassed; that’s the truth.”
He added that after being criticized for returning, he reconsidered his decision.
Interestingly, Lillard did not completely disavow the movie itself, admitting that he still likes being part of Scream 7 while conceding that accepting the role “may not have been the best idea.”
Scream 7 Was Completely Rebuilt
Barrera’s firing created enormous problems for what was supposed to become the seventh installment of the franchise.
Jenna Ortega, who played Sam Carpenter’s sister Tara, subsequently exited the project. Director Christopher Landon also departed in December 2023.
The departures effectively destroyed the version of Scream 7 that had originally been planned.
Instead, the franchise pivoted back toward its legacy characters.
A screenshot from the trailer for Scream 7 – YouTube, Paramount Pictures
Original Scream screenwriter Kevin Williamson stepped behind the camera as director, while Neve Campbell returned as Sidney Prescott after sitting out Scream VI following a salary dispute.
Courteney Cox also returned as Gale Weathers, while Lillard finally came back to the franchise decades after playing Stu Macher in the original movie.
The strategy worked commercially.
Scream 7 opened in February 2026 and ultimately grossed approximately $214 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing installment in the franchise.
A screenshot from the trailer for Scream 7 – YouTube, Paramount Pictures
That makes Lillard’s comments particularly notable. He isn’t expressing regret after participating in a commercial disaster. He’s saying that he believes accepting a role in the most financially successful Scream movie was nevertheless a personal mistake because of what happened to Barrera.
Of course there has been no word that Lillard has since donated the money he made on the film to any charitable cause to benefit anyone in Gaza. We’re sure it’s coming any day now…
Barrera Previously Called Out the Returning Cast
Lillard’s comments also arrive months after Barrera offered a much harsher assessment of the actors who agreed to participate in the reworked movie.
During an interview with Variety in May, Barrera was asked whether she viewed the actors who returned to the franchise following her firing as having effectively crossed a picket line.
“Oh, one hundred percent,” Barrera answered. “I think they all are. And they have to live with that.”
Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter in Scream VI (2023), Spyglass
She also accused Scream 7 of relying heavily on nostalgia after the original plans involving Sam and Tara Carpenter collapsed.
“The only way they were able to make that movie after what happened was to nostalgia-bait as much as possible,” Barrera said.
Lillard’s latest remarks appear to acknowledge at least part of that criticism.
Politics Remain Front and Center for Lillard
The discussion began after Lillard was asked about celebrities speaking publicly about political and social issues.
Lillard said he considers speaking out an obligation, pointing to his children and his opposition to ICE.
“For me, I have queer kids,” Lillard said, adding that if he does not defend queer and transgender children, he questions what he is doing with his platform.
Matthew Lillard in Scream – Paramount
Those remarks follow Lillard making headlines in 2025 when he publicly declared “f**k ICE” during another Scream-related appearance.
His latest comments make clear that Lillard now places his decision to join Scream 7 within that same political framework.
Three years after Barrera was fired, Lillard is no longer simply defending his former Scream co-star. He is openly criticizing his own participation in the movie that Spyglass ultimately made without her.
And despite Scream 7 delivering the franchise its biggest box-office haul yet, Matthew Lillard now believes that his long-awaited return as Stu Macher was decision he now regrets.
We’ll be watching to see if he donates that money.
How do you feel about Matthew Lillard and his comments on Scream 7? Sound off and let us know!
