Jenna Ortega is setting the record straight about her headline-making exit from Scream 7, revealing that her departure had nothing to do with previous reports of scheduling conflicts or salary negotiations.
In a new interview with The Cut, Ortega confirmed that her decision to leave the iconic horror franchise was deeply tied to behind-the-scenes fallout specifically surrounding the firing of her co-star Melissa Barrera.
It had nothing to do with pay or scheduling. The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart. 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.
Ortega clarified
Ortega starred as Tara Carpenter in 2022’s Scream and 2023’s Scream VI, quickly becoming a fan favorite. But in November 2023, she made headlines after exiting the seventh installment. At the time, her reps cited scheduling conflicts due to her work on Netflix’s Wednesday.
However, many fans speculated her decision was tied to Barrera’s controversial firing, a theory Ortega now confirms.
Barrera was removed from the film after posting on social media in support of Palestine and criticizing Israel for “genocide and ethnic cleansing.” Franchise production company Spyglass Media Group responded publicly, stating:
Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.
In the wake of Barrera’s dismissal, Scream 7 director Christopher Landon shared and later deleted a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.”
A month later, Landon officially exited the project, calling it “a dream job that turned into a nightmare.”
My heart did break for everyone involved. But it’s time to move on.
he wrote.
Since stepping away from Scream, Ortega has continued to thrive, returning for Season 2 of Wednesday and starring in the hit sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Meanwhile, Scream 7 has moved forward with franchise creator Kevin Williamson now set to direct, and Neve Campbell confirmed to return.
Reflecting on her career shift, Ortega emphasized her desire to work on more original projects and with emerging filmmakers.
I’ve happened to join a lot of franchises, which is so great to be a part of legacy. But for me, I’m really trying to prioritize new directors and original stories.
she told The Cut
I know on the outside, maybe people are looking at my choices like, ‘Man, what the hell is this girl doing? . I never thought I would do a movie [like A24’s Death of Unicorn]. But an original script is exciting. If I can help get it made, I love to do that.
she continued
Source: Variety
