Scream 7 star Anna Camp issued an apology for a statement she shared on social media that taunted those who protested the new movie in the wake of Melissa Barrera’s controversial departure from the franchise.
Camp shared another account’s Instagram story that taunted: “The boycott didn’t work. The critics’ hate didn’t work. The pathetic leaks didn’t work. What worked was audiences coming out and making the film a success.”
The story was previously posted by the Scream with Ryan C. Showers podcast (below). On Monday, Camp deleted her post and wrote on X: “It has come to my attention that I reposted someone else’s story that does not reflect my personal beliefs. I have since deleted the repost because I absolutely meant no harm. I’m sorry to anyone who was affected.”
The boycott is in reference to uproar over Barrera being ousted from Scream 7 in 2023 after appearing in the fifth and sixth movies in the franchise. Barrera wrote social media posts regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict which the film’s production company, Spyglass Media Group, called antisemitic. Co-star Jenna Ortega soon left, as well, as did the film’s original director, Christopher Landon.
The project was eventually given a total overhaul with Kevin Williamson coming on board as director and original franchise star Neve Campbell returning. The film’s premiere drew a small group of pro-Palestine protesters outside the Paramount Studios lot.
As for the “critics’ hate,” that refers to the film getting the franchise’s worst Rotten Tomatoes score, with just 34 percent, but its audience score is a hearty 78 percent.
Scream 7 opened to a franchise-best $64.1 million domestically and $33.1 million overseas for a global start of $97.2 million. In North America, it’s the biggest launch ever for a horror title going out in February.