Jenna Ortega Shows Supports For Melissa Barrera After ‘Scream 7’ Firing

Jenna Ortega, the star of Netflix’s ‘You’ and Disney’s ‘Stuck in the Middle,’ has shown her solidarity with Melissa Barrera, who was recently fired from ‘Scream 7’ for her pro-Palestine stance.

Ortega liked a post by Celebrities4Palestine, an Instagram account that highlights celebrities who speak up for the Palestinian cause, that praised Barrera for standing her ground after being dropped from the ‘Scream’ franchise.

Barrera, who is best known for her roles in ‘Vida’ and ‘In the Heights,’ was reportedly fired from ‘Scream 7’ after posting a series of Instagram stories denouncing the Israeli occupation and oppression of Gaza.

“Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp. Cornering everyone together, with nowhere to go, no electricity no water…people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING,” Barrera wrote in one of her stories.

In another story, Barrera criticized the Western media for its biased coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying: “Western media only shows the other side. Why they do that, I will let you deduce for yourself.”

According to Variety, Barrera’s posts were interpreted as antisemitic by Spyglass, the production company behind ‘Scream,’ who decided to fire her from the upcoming sequel.

“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,” Spyglass said in a statement.

Barrera, however, did not back down from her views, and posted a defiant message on social media after being fired from ‘Scream 7.’

“At the end of the day, I’d rather be excluded for who I include, than be included for who I exclude,” Barrera wrote, quoting Rev. Eston Williams.

Barrera also broke her silence in a recent statement, where she defended her right to speak out for human rights and justice.

“First and foremost I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people. As a Latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard, and therefore I have tried to use it to raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need. Every person on this earth- regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status- deserves equal human rights, dignity, and, of course, freedom. I believe a group of people are NOT their leadership, and that no governing body should be above criticism. I pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence, and for peaceful co-existence. I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights, and freedom. Silence is not an option for me,” Barrera said.

Ortega, who has also expressed her support for Palestine in the past, liked Celebrities4Palestine’s post that featured Barrera’s statement, along with the caption: “Melissa Barrera stands her ground after being dropped from SCREAM for speaking up for Palestine.”

Ortega and Barrera are not the only celebrities who have faced backlash for their pro-Palestine stance. Other stars, such as Mark Ruffalo, Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, and Gigi Hadid, have also been accused of antisemitism or faced calls for boycotts for their criticism of Israel’s policies and actions.

However, these celebrities have also received support and praise from many fans and activists who appreciate their courage and compassion.