1 week Ago By Bang Showbiz, Tatiana Krisztina
Jenna Ortega has shed light on her decision to leave the Scream franchise , revealing that it was more complicated than initially reported. The 21-year-old actress , who played Tara Carpenter in Scream (2022) and Scream VI (2023), denied that her exit from the seventh installment was due to a scheduling conflict. Instead, she attributed her departure to a deeper issue involving her co-star Melissa Barrera , who was let go from Scream VII after sparking controversy with her social media posts about the Israel-Palestine conflict .
In an interview with The Cut, Jenna clarified, "It had nothing to do with pay or scheduling." She explained that the situation surrounding Melissa's exit was a significant factor in her decision. "The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart," she explained.
"If Scream VII wasn't going to be with that team of directors and those people I fell in love with, then it didn't seem like the right move for me in my career at the time." Jenna's departure from the franchise came just a day after Melissa's firing, fueling speculation that she was showing solidarity with her co-star. Melissa, 33, had posted on social media in support of Palestine, criticizing Israel's actions and accusing them of "genocide and ethnic cleansing" In response, Spyglass Media Group, the producer of the Scream franchise, issued a statement to Variety condemning hate speech and emphasizing their "zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form.
" Scream VII has faced its share of drama, with both Melissa and director Christopher Landon stepping away from the project. Landon expressed his disappointment publicly, lamenting, "Everything sucks. Stop yelling.
This was not my decision to make." He clarified his departure later, describing the lost opportunity as "a dream job that turned into a nightmare." The film has since found a new direction under Kevin Williamson, who penned the original Scream script, bringing Neve Campbell back into the fold.
Jenna Ortega, on the other hand, has been busily carving out her niche with a second season of Netflix's Wednesday and the successful Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. She's voiced her commitment to fresh content, eager to elevate new talent and unique stories, "I'm really trying to prioritise new directors and original stories." Keeping in line with that vision, Jenna's involvement in Death of a Unicorn, an A24 release, showcases her willingness to champion innovative narratives, stating, "If I can help get it made, I love to do that.
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