Protesters Interrupt Scream 7 Premiere as Courtney Cox and Cast Walk the Red Carpet
Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the Paramount Studios lot during the Scream 7 premiere, chanting and playing drums in a protest tied to the firing of Melissa Barrera; courtney cox stood with fellow cast members on the red carpet as the demonstration played faintly in the background.
Crowd at Paramount lot and why they came
The demonstration took place on the studio lot as stars posed for photos; one account put the crowd at about 25 protesters, while another described the group as "dozens. " Protesters waved Palestinian flags, banged drums and chanted phrases including "Boycott Scream 7" and "Free, free, free Palestine, " and some held signs that read "Cancel Paramount+" and "Stand For Free Speech Boycott Scream 7. " The march was organized by Entertainment Labor for Palestine, CODEPINK LA and Jewish Voice for Peace-Los Angeles.
Casting fallout that sparked the demonstration
The protests were a direct response to Melissa Barrera’s firing from the film in November 2023 after she posted criticism of Israel on social media and accused the nation of "genocide and ethnic cleansing, " and shared a post about Holocaust distortion. Spyglass said, "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. "
Courtney Cox on the red carpet and director's remarks
Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox posed for photos at the premiere while the chants could be faintly heard; courtney cox was among the original cast members present alongside David Arquette and Matthew Lillard. Director Kevin Williamson, who took over directing duties after Christopher Landon left the project, addressed the protest on the carpet, saying, "We live in a world where a lot of bad things are happening out there, and I think a lot of people want to be heard and they want to have their voice heard about the bad stuff that’s happening. " Williamson added in another comment that he supports the right to protest and that people should be heard.
The film’s production underwent multiple changes after Barrera’s exit: Jenna Ortega also departed the project citing scheduling conflicts, the script was rewritten, and the original Sidney Prescott, Neve Campbell, returned to the franchise. The reworked cast for Scream 7 includes Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, Joel McHale and Mckenna Grace alongside the returning original stars.
The protesters told attendees and passersby they wanted to "raise awareness about the Boycott Scream 7 campaign" and urged audiences to refrain from supporting the film; some protesters explicitly linked the boycott language to Paramount+ and the film’s backers. On the red carpet, the chanting was audible but did not stop the premiere festivities.
Scream 7 is scheduled to be released on Feb. 27, and studio and production representatives have issued statements about the cast changes and their stance on hate speech. The next confirmed public milestone for the project is its theatrical release on Feb. 27, when audiences will see the completed film and the industry reaction to the premiere protest will be measured against box office and audience response following that release.
