UNITED STATES — September 17, 2026 — In a candid moment that has quickly spread across social media, Matthew Lillard admitted he feels "ashamed" and "embarrassed" about returning as Stu Macher in Scream 7 following the controversial firing of Melissa Barrera.
The comments were made during a Q&A at a 30th-anniversary screening of the original Scream. Multiple outlets including The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, Variety, and USA Today reported the remarks on September 16.
Lillard’s Exact Words
"Melissa Barrera, who’s a beautiful actor, was fired for what she said after the whole Palestinian — what started happening in Israel," Lillard said. "It’s really f***ing bulls*** and really hard, and she’s on the right side of history."
He continued: "I went back to do Scream, and I got called out. And I’m like, ‘Oh f***. That’s brutal.’ I feel bad about that. I feel ashamed about that. Because in that moment I was so excited to go back, I didn’t really think about Melissa and that journey. I didn’t say no. I’m embarrassed, that’s the truth… I blew that. I’m on the wrong side of history for that. I still like being in the movie [but] it may not have been the best idea."
Stu Macher’s Return and Legacy
Lillard’s character Stu Macher was one of the original Ghostface killers. In the 1996 film he appeared to die after a television was dropped on his head. He returned for Scream 7 (February 27, 2026), which became the highest-grossing entry in the franchise.
Matthew Lillard on LGBTQ+ Allyship and Personal Challenges
Lillard has been an outspoken LGBTQ+ ally and is the father of a non-binary child. He has also spoken about growing up with a severe learning disability.
Jenna Ortega and the Wider Fallout
After Barrera’s firing, Jenna Ortega also left the project. The film was reworked around Neve Campbell. Scream 8 is already in development.
This is breaking entertainment news. Shivam Das News will continue to follow developments.
