Melissa Barrera felt Cancel Culture’s sting once. The second time could be permanent.
Barrera, who played a critical role in two “Scream” features, got booted from the franchise in November for sharing extreme views on the Israeli/Palestinian divide.
She sounded unrepentant at the recent Sundance Film Festival, standing her ground in an industry not known for supporting free speech. She went so far as to join a pro-Palestinian protest meant to interrupt the Park City, Utah’s event.
The actress reportedly chanted, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” an “antisemitic charge denying the Jewish right to self-determination, including through the removal of Jews from their ancestral homeland.” according to the Anti-Defamation League.
She may have lost the “Scream” gig, but she promoted her newest project, “Your Monster,” at Sundance without incident and appeared to be in good standing within the Hollywood community.
This time may be different.
Earlier this week, Barrera shared a link on Instagram asking followers to donate to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to help “all the martyrs in Gaza and the West Bank.”
That phrasing aligns with terrorist mantras, hardly the kind of optics Barrera needed following her “Scream” exit.
The bigger problem is clear.
We recently learned that UNRWA members allegedly took an active role in Hamas’ Oct. 7 savagery against Israel which killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 people hostage.
Even toddlers.
The far-Left Variety shares the sordid details.
Ten percent of the agency’s Gaza staff allegedly have ties to Hamas and another Islamist militant group that the U.S. has designated as a terrorist organization. On Jan. 28, the U.S. announced its decision to freeze all money to the group.
Her agent and management companies allegedly planned to distance themselves from Barrera but had a change of heart. It’s possible they’re waiting to see how the story plays out, hoping for the rhetorical storm to pass.
Organizations often behave in such a fashion in the Cancel Culture age.
While Barrera’s “In the Heights” project disappointed at the box office, her “Scream” installments supercharged the franchise. She and co-star Jenna Ortega, who play sisters in the series, were meant to anchor future installments.
Ortega bowed out of the 7th “Scream” feature days after Barrera’s exit from the title, although the “Wednesday” star claimed it had nothing to do with the kerfuffle in question. The next “Scream” franchise also lost its director and appears creatively in limbo.
Where does all of this leave Barrera? The 33-year-old’s career could be seriously damaged by the latest imbroglio. Studios routinely dismiss free speech defenses when a star says the “wrong” thing.
For Roseanne Barr, one awful, racially-charged Tweet ended her Hollywood career. Gina Carano suffered a similar setback for expressing contrarian views on trans issues and the pandemic.
Barrera could face a similar fate.
She’s in uncharted territory given the emotions around the Israel/Palestinian divide. So is Hollywood, which ordinarily looks the other way when progressive stars share “problematic” thoughts.
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