Matthew Lillard has said he regrets returning to Scream 7 after Melissa Barrera was fired from the franchise over her pro-Palestine stance.
Speaking during a question-and-answer session at a screening marking the 30th anniversary of Scream, the actor was asked about celebrities speaking out on political issues.
Lillard said advocating for trans people and the LGBTQ community was straightforward for him, as he is the father of queer children. But he acknowledged feeling conflicted about rejoining the horror franchise after Barrera’s dismissal.
“I feel bad about that. I feel shame about that,” he told the audience. “Because in that moment I was so excited to go back.”
He added: “I didn’t really think about Melissa and the journey. And I didn’t say no.”
Lillard also said Barrera had been “on the right side of history” for speaking out, and lamented that she had not received the same level of backing as Macklemore after the rapper was similarly removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour.
