Melissa Barrera showed solidarity with Palestinians. Hollywood showed its persistent double standard.

[Celerity]

https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-11-30/melissa-barrera-scream-israel-palestine-scream-noah-schnapp-stranger-things

https://archive.is/fYj7A



Mexican actor Melissa Barrera was credited with revitalizing the “Scream” horror franchise before she was suddenly dropped from her lead role in the upcoming seventh installment. Fans speculated that her firing had something to do with her vocal support for Palestinians on social media, and last week, they were given an answer. Spyglass Media Group, the production company behind the campy films, said in an official statement to Variety that Barrera had been let go for material posted to her social media that they characterized as antisemitic.

Barrera’s firing is a sad reminder of how historically marginalized groups, like Latinas, are forced to walk a tightrope when advocating for social causes, and of how fragile “representation” is in Hollywood. According to Variety, Spyglass took issue with Barrera resharing a post accusing Israel of “genocide and ethnic cleansing,” as well as a Jewish Currents article about the distortion of the Holocaust to bolster the Israeli arms industry. It should be mentioned that the article was written by Raz Segal, a respected Israeli historian who has written multiple books about the Holocaust. A cursory glance at his body of work shows his dedication to preserving the memory of the Holocaust. He has, for example, written on Bulgaria whitewashing its role in the atrocity.

But Barrera wasn’t afforded the luxury of nuance. There was no slap on the wrist. Retribution was swift. “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,” a Spyglass spokesperson said in the company’s statement to Variety. Again, the Holocaust distortion in question can be attributed to an Israeli scholar. For her part, Barrera has held her ground, condemning antisemitism while reaffirming her solidarity with Palestinians. “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,” she wrote on Instagram.

Antisemitism is a real, pernicious evil. I recall the 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, which is only the visible tip of an issue that’s deeply entrenched in our country. But Barrera being smeared as antisemitic and unceremoniously dropped from a leading movie role highlights a persistent double standard in Hollywood and beyond. Marginalized individuals, when expressing their support for a cause, must assuage the anxiety of their peers before speaking up. They must promise that they aren’t a threat, must be exceptionally articulate, must cover all their bases, and even when all these conditions are meticulously met, punishment can come anyway.

snip

[NCIndie]

1. Hollywood hypocrisy is on display daily, but...

About that article:

" Spyglass took issue with Barrera resharing a post accusing Israel of “genocide and ethnic cleansing,” as well as a Jewish Currents article about the distortion of the Holocaust to bolster the Israeli arms industry."

Why did they skip past the "genocide and ethnic cleansing" accusations and focus only on the various works by Raz Segal?

It's tough getting a reasonable view of things when somebody's got an axe to grind.

[Celerity]

2. When you look at the statements, aims, desires, and actual actions of many in the RW Netanyahu coalition, it is not

at all out of bounds to make the claims Melissa Barrera and millions of others do.

[NCIndie]

3. And she is entitled to her opinion about such things

And she is entitled to the consequences of her actions.

[Celerity]

15. And the film's producers are entitled to the consequences of their actions. I can deffo seeing it not ending well for

them in terms of the box office.

[NCIndie]

16. You're assuming that movie goers are:

a) tapped into this drama
b) agree with her and not Spyglass
c) care at all about global political politics.

Time will tell. God knows that right wing loonies conduct some pretty powerful boycotts (e.g., Bud Light). We'll see what the pro-Palestinian crowd does with this.

[Celerity]

17. Oh, Scream's demographics are very clued into this level of drama (the lead actress binned) and I doubt will

take the side of Spyglass to a larger degree than they will side with Melissa Barrera .

They do not have to be super attentive to global politics, in fact I would posit that makes it more likely they boycott, as they will focus on the actress being fired.

[malaise]

10. THIS

Rec

[Celerity]

25. Scream 7 Firing Decried as Censorship in Letter Signed by More Than 1300 Actors and Artists (including Oscar winner

Olivia Colman)

https://www.ign.com/articles/scream-7-firing-letter-1300-actors-artists

More than 1,300 actors and artists have signed a letter condemning what they call censorship against speaking out on Palestine, with the recent firing of Scream VII star Melissa Barrera cited among the incidents.

The letter was published by Artists for Palestine UK on Thursday. Among the signees are Oscar-winner Olivia Colman, Harriet Walter (Succession, Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education), Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls), Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You), Youssef Kerkour (Napoleon), Nicola Coughlan (Derry Girls, Bridgerton), Lolly Adefope (Ghosts), and Emma Seligman (director, Bottoms).

The letter, addressed to the "arts and culture sector," accuses "many cultural institutions in Western countries" of "systematically repressing, silencing and stigmatising Palestinian voices and perspectives."

"This includes targeting and threatening the livelihoods of artists and arts workers who express solidarity with Palestinians, as well as cancelling performances, screenings, talks, exhibitions and book launches," it goes on.

snip

[obamanut2012]

5. wth

[gulliver]

6. What is she besides an actress (that anyone cares about her opinion)?

Susan Sarandon is an actress, for example, and a damned good one. But she's not playing with a full deck. (Maybe that's why she's so good as an actress.) Haven't seen this Barrera person. Which of the A, B, C, etc., lists is she on?

[Celerity]

7. The first sentence of the article addressed that (she also played the lead role in Carmen, the film reboot of the opera)

Mexican actor Melissa Barrera was credited with revitalizing the “Scream” horror franchise before she was suddenly dropped from her lead role in the upcoming seventh installment.

[obamanut2012]

8. And also gained huge acclaim starring in Vida and In the Heights

She also is a very popular singer and actress in Mexico, her home country, including being nominated for acting awards.

[xmas74]

9. When this happened a few weeks ago

It was mentioned that it was the comment about the Holocaust that did it, not the support of Palestine.
People can show support for Palestine and it's really not an issue. When you start making comments about the Holocaust you're playing with fire. She said (paraphrased) that basically the Holocaust wasn't that awful and that it was being milked as an excuse to do whatever. That was always going to garner attention.
People with public jobs know they need to think about what they post. I have a job that faces the public and I know I need to think twice about what I say. I have nowhere near any kind of platform like her. She knows that there can be consequences.

Besides, we can now hope they'll finally pay Neve Campbell what she deserves to come back and finally finish the franchise. She's always been The Final Girl for the Scream Franchise. If she's in one last movie with Courtney Cox they can end it all.

[Celerity]

12. where did she say

She said (paraphrased) that basically the Holocaust wasn't that awful

?

Paraphrased or not, that is a huge claim.

[obamanut2012]

20. She didn't say that

I saw all of her statements.

[xmas74]

35. Someone actually sent out the link to her Instagram

Account where she initially posted it. Thousands saw it. I even saw it, though she has since removed it and backtracked on the comment. It was all over Tiktok with the link.

Jenna Ortega also made pro Palestinian comments and there were no issues with her comments. She knew the line and how to not cross it. It's the comment about the Holocaust that did her in, not the pro Palestinian comments.

[Celerity]

37. So you have no actual proof/evidence with links?

Surely there would be something out there if she actually said what you claim.

[xmas74]

38. It's been all over the place for almost two weeks.

It's not my job to find information about this for yoy.

[Celerity]

39. No, you made a big claim, and cannot back it up.

You said

She said (paraphrased) that basically the Holocaust wasn't that awful

And have provided no evidence so far for that huge claim.

Another poster (who is very reliable as far as I have seen many many times in the past) already said that she did not say it.

Now you are employing sophistry and trying to claim it is somehow my burden to back up your claim.

It doesn’t work that way m8.

[DFW]

11. From the sound of it, this sounds more like a business decision than retribution

If the film studio had a reasonable fear that its products (i.e. its films) would face a massive boycott, they wanted to ward that off. A film studio would have done that to Robert DiNiro or Will Smith as well. They are not going after questionable statements per se, they are trying to avoid a boycott of a product that it is very easy for anyone looking to do without it.

[Celerity]

14. Sorry, not buying that line of logic, especially as there likely will be a reverse-boycott now, and the demographics

for the Scream franchise (pretty young on average) are, I wager, far more apt to boycott it now, and in a more substantive way, than if she had continued on as the lead and a boycott had emerged from that.

I hope that movie goes down the shitter at the box office.

[Oopsie Daisy]

18. I'll bet the studio execs know more about their industry and random posters on a political chat forum.

Obviously, they weighed the risks/benefits of action/inaction and this is what they decided to do. Seems like a smart decision to me too. But, I'm just another random poster... so who am I to second-guess?

[Celerity]

22. The other lead just left it: Jenna Ortega exits Scream 7 after firing of Melissa Barrera over Palestine posts

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/jenna-ortega-melissa-barrera-scream-b2454332.html

Jenna Ortega is reportedly no longer expected to reprise her role for Scream VII.

The news comes one day after her co-star Melissa Barrera was fired from the horror franchise due to comments she made about Israel-Palestine on social media.

According to Deadline, Ortega, 21, has dropped out of the sequel due to scheduling conflicts with the second season of her hit Netflix series, Wednesday in which she plays Wednesday Addams of The Addams Family.

The Independent has contacted representatives for Ortega and Spyglass (the studio behind the film) for comment.

not a good week for Spyglass, regardless of where you stand

[Oopsie Daisy]

24. They should use AI instead. 😂🤣😂🤣

[obamanut2012]

26. This was the reboot of the Scream franchise that ahd done very well -- Barrerra and Ortega were the leads!

They ahev been very popular in the Scream movies. The producers refused to pay Neve Campbell (the original laad ) anything more than a pittance, and she was like lol bye.

[DFW]

21. If that audience is anything like the ones I meet with in the States

They are so completely disinterested in the Middle East, it won't matter much one way or the other. If you're tuned in to the Scream movies, at least from the few young Americans I have met that are, the most they know about Hamas is that that it is a component half of a of a sandwich, along with cheese.

[Celerity]

23. You are missing my point. They will focus on Melissa Barrera being sacked, plus the other lead (Jenna Ortega) just left

the film as well.

[obamanut2012]

28. They know they are screwed -- the franchise is pretty much dead with Ortega quitting

[DFW]

30. Maybe, but I think the vast audience disconnects

They care about what they see on the screen, not who is playing what role.

Even my daughters couldn't care less about that stuff any more.

[Celerity]

31. Disagree, a shedload of my age demographic is very much into fandom. I absolutely do not think Spyglass can just lose

(especially via sacking one of them) both the main leads for Scream 7 and not suffer.

[DFW]

33. I'll bow to your judgment on that

I didn't even know there was a scream 4, 5, or 6. I guess I should have known that such sequelmania wasn't limited to Jaws, Fast and Furious, Star Trek or Rambo, but since I have spending most of my time here (decades, now), I just don't follow "fandom," as you so aptly put it, very closely. I probably wouldn't relate to it much even if I did.

[obamanut2012]

27. Scream is a GenX and older Millenial franchise

The Zoomers are also enjoying the reboot, so it is also for older folks like me who have watched it since teh beginning when Never Campbell was the lead.

Also, I respect you a lot, but I work with students 18-25 years old or so every day, and they absolutely know about Hamas, and Bibi, and everything else. The ham sandwich remark is a surprise from you.

[DFW]

32. It's the American students I run into

It's a slice, not the whole pie. But what I said does reflect the Americans of that age I run into, both here and in the States. Just today, on the train back from NL, there was an American family across from me discussing what their immediate travel plans would be. Parents maybe 50, children 20-25. All they were talking about were the sights they would see and how to get there, having no idea about any of the gerography, mispronouncing everything, and basically making me ashamed to be a holder of the same passport. If you run into many educated and aware American 18-25 years olds, then bravo. I sure don't. Check with me in 15 years, if I live that long, when I'll have an American (sorta) grandchild. Although my four grandchildren have (or will have) U.S. citizenship, none of their parents were born in the USA, or have English as their first language.

By the way, in the future, help me out with some specifics instead of abbreviations. I hear all these terms used all over, but as to what is meant by GenX, Millenials and Zoomers, I don't know, and can't be bothered to look them up every time. These are not terms used much here, and when I talk with back home, it's either for work, or else arranging visits with family or political types, with whom, in an an election cycle, we discuss election strategy, not show business personalities supporting one side or other in the MIddle East. After all, as far as I could see in the last 15 years, even Clint Eastwood only ended up preaching to a very small choir. I can't even say I get a broad picture of the American "celebrities," either, since there are basically only two Republicans I ever talk to. One is a total nut case--entertaining, but a dangerous, smart, very active 90 year old (and they call Joe Biden old) nut case--and the other is a personable, smart former southern governor who keeps his mouth shut when the going gets rough, leading me to think he might want to run for the Senate, or even his old seat in the governor's mansion. We will all be meeting up again over New Year's, so I'll hear more then, although what is said there is off the record. I need to tread carefully about what I repeat so as not to break the rules.

[Jose Garcia]

13. She should team up with Gina Carano and start their own production company

[obamanut2012]

19. Gina Carano is a wingnut trust fund baby who can't act, Melissa Barrerra is the opposite

[Celerity]

29. Gina Carano is a RW shitbag who works with Ben Shapiro, zero chance Barrera hooks up with her

[GuppyGal]

34. "Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp," she wrote in one recent post."

She's an IDIOT

[JI7]

36. Why bring up the holocaust at all ?