Jenna Ortega Exits ‘Scream 7’: Reveals Real Reason Amid Melissa Barrera Firing Drama!

Jenna Ortega’s Departure from “Scream” Explained

In a recent conversation with The Cut, Jenna Ortega clarified that her decision to leave the “Scream” series was not due to previously cited reasons related to scheduling conflicts. Ortega, who portrayed Tara Carpenter in the 2022 and 2023 sequels of “Scream,” departed from the upcoming seventh film in November 2023, initially attributing her exit to conflicts in her filming schedule.

Ortega disclosed, “The reasons were neither related to pay nor scheduling conflicts. There were issues concerning Melissa, and things were starting to unravel. If ‘Scream VII’ wasn’t going to involve the same directorial team and the people I cherished working with, it didn’t feel like the correct path for my career at that moment.”

The Controversy Around Co-Star Melissa Barrera

The “Melissa stuff” Ortega referred to involves her “Scream” co-star Melissa Barrera, who was dismissed from “Scream 7” following her social media comments on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The termination of Barrera’s contract occurred just a day before news of Ortega’s departure surfaced, leading to speculation that Ortega’s exit was in solidarity with Barrera. Ortega’s interview with The Cut confirms this speculation.

Barrera faced dismissal from the franchise due to her controversial posts that supported Palestine and accused Israel of “genocide and ethnic cleansing.” In a statement to The Bangin Beats, the franchise producer Spyglass Media Group expressed, “Our stance is unequivocally clear: We maintain a zero tolerance policy towards antisemitism or any form of hate incitement, including false allegations of genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion, or other forms of hate speech.”

Following the controversy, Christopher Landon, the director of “Scream 7,” initially expressed his frustration on X with a post that he later removed, stating, “Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This wasn’t my choice.” Approximately a month later, Landon announced his departure from the film, describing the experience as a “dream job that turned into a nightmare,” and expressed his heartbreak over the situation but recognized the need to move forward.

As the “Scream” franchise continues, Kevin Williamson, the original screenwriter, has taken over as director for the seventh installment, which will see the return of franchise veteran Neve Campbell. Meanwhile, Ortega has progressed with other projects including the second season of her hit Netflix series “Wednesday” and the success of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”

Ortega reflected on her career choices, emphasizing her desire to work with new directors and original narratives: “Joining numerous franchises has been incredible, and I cherish being part of these legacies. However, I am now focusing on fresh, original stories and directors. While some may question my decisions, I find excitement in unique scripts and the opportunity to bring them to life.”

For more details, read Ortega’s full interview with The Cut [here](#).