'Scream' star admits he's 'ashamed' of sequel return after actress fired over anti-Israel comments

"Scream" actor Matthew Lillard said Tuesday that he felt "ashamed" for returning to the horror franchise after actress Melissa Barrera was fired over posts about Israel and the war in Gaza, telling fans during a 30th anniversary screening in Austin, Texas, that he believed he ended up on the "wrong side of history."

Lillard, who reprised his role as Stu Macher in the seventh installment, said his excitement about returning to the franchise overshadowed his concerns about how Barrera had been treated.

As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Lillard said, "I went back to do Scream, and I got called out. And Im like, Oh, f---. Thats brutal." "I feel bad about that. I feel ashamed about that. Because in that moment I was so excited to go back, I didnt really think about Melissa and that journey."

"Im embarrassed, thats the truth… I blew that. Im on the wrong side of history for that. I still like being in the movie [but] it may not have been the best idea," Lillard continued.

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in November 2023 after publishing and sharing a series of posts criticizing Israel following Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack.

In one post previously reported by Fox News Digital, Barrera accused Israel of committing "genocide" and "ethnic cleansing" in Gaza.

"Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp," Barrera said. "Cornering everyone together, with no where to go, no electricity no water … People have [learned] nothing from our histories. And just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING."

In another post, Barrera claimed Western news outlets were disproportionately presenting Israel's side of the conflict and told followers to draw their own conclusions about why.

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"Because western media only shows the other side. Why they do that, I will let you deduce for yourself," Barrera said.

that Barrera was removed merely for supporting Palestinians, instead saying it viewed some of her rhetoric as antisemitic.

"Spyglass stance is unequivocally clear: 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," the company said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Spyglass Media for comment about Lillard's remarks.

Barrera subsequently rejected the suggestion that she was promoting antisemitism and defended her criticism of governments, in May.

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"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," Barrera said.

The controversy resurfaced earlier this year when Barrera criticized former cast-mates who returned to the franchise without her. When asked whether actors who went back for "Scream 7" were "scabby," Barrera agreed.

"One hundred percent.