‘Scream 7’ Director Kevin Williamson Reacts to Pro-Palestine Protesters Marching Outside L.A. Premiere

Hollywood Reporter

by Carly Thomas

February 26, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Los Angeles premiere of *Scream 7* to voice their concerns, with many holding signs and chanting slogans like “Boycott Scream 7” and “Free Palestine.” The demonstration, organized by groups including Entertainment Labor for Palestine and CODEPINK LA, aimed to highlight what they view as Hollywood’s silencing of pro-Palestinian voices and its alleged whitewashing of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Among the protesters’ targets was the firing of actress Melissa Barrera from *Scream 7* last November after she expressed support for Palestine on social media following Hamas’ invasion of Israel. The protest occurred at Paramount Studios, where the film’s stars, including Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox, attended the premiere. While the event drew significant attention, the protesters’ chants and drum beats were faintly heard from the red carpet. Director Kevin Williamson addressed the situation, stating, “I saw them and my heart just sort of stopped. Look, we live in America. Everyone has a right to protest and everyone should be heard.” He emphasized his support for their right to demonstrate but did not comment on the broader issues they raised. The protesters’ actions were also tied to a boycott campaign urging audiences to avoid *Scream 7*, which had its release delayed until February 27. Organizers argued that Hollywood’s treatment of Barrera and others advocating for Palestine reflects systemic censorship and racism in the industry. They criticized what they described as propaganda being used to promote a “genocide,” while Spyglass

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Originally published on Hollywood Reporter on 2/26/2026