Matthew Lillard said he regrets returning to Scream 7 after Melissa Barrera was fired amid controversy over her pro Palestine statements, speaking during a Q&A at a Scream 30th anniversary screening. The actor said he felt ashamed that his excitement about revisiting the franchise kept him from publicly standing with Barrera. Lillard explained that speaking up for trans people and the LGBTQ community feels straightforward to him, especially as a father of queer children. Lillard said the Barrera situation exposed a personal failure because he recognized Barrera was taking a principled stand, yet still chose to continue with the film. Why Does Matthew Lillard Regret It? Lillard told the audience that he failed to fully consider Barrera's experience before agreeing to return. His regret centers on the fact that he had the opportunity to decline Scream 7 and did not use it. Lillard also compared Barrera's treatment with the public support received by Macklemore after the rapper was removed from Ed Sheeran's tour. The comparison sharpened his larger point, that celebrities who speak about Palestine can face career consequences while the industry decides when solidarity is convenient.