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Melissa Barrera is a gifted star in Hollywood. After starring within the Lin-Manuel Miranda-directed movie In The Heights, the 33-year-old joined the Scream franchise for Scream 5 in 2022. Melissa returned for Scream 6 however was fired from the upcoming sequel, Scream 7, for her social media posts concerning the ongoing battle between Israel and Hamas.
So, who’s Melissa Barrera? Right here is every little thing you must know concerning the actress and the Scream 7 controversy.
Melissa was the brand new ‘Scream’ queen — till she was fired.
Melissa was the lead function within the fifth Scream film in 2022. She joined Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding and extra as new additions to the franchise, starring with returning forged members Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Neve Campbell, and others. Melissa performed Sam Carpenter and reprised the function for Scream 6, which got here out March 2023.
Melissa was set to return for the upcoming seventh Scream film till she made posts concerning the Israel-Hamas battle that obtained her fired from the movie on November 21. Considered one of Melissa’s Instagram Tales included a message that learn, “Gaza is presently being handled like a focus camp. Cornering everybody collectively, with no the place to go, no electrical energy no water … Individuals have learnt nothing from our histories. And similar to our histories, persons are nonetheless silently watching all of it occur. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING,” in response to The Hollywood Reporter.
Spyglass — the corporate behind the movie — launched an announcement to Selection explaining their determination to chop ties with Melissa. “Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: Now we have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any type, together with false references to genocide, ethnic cleaning, Holocaust distortion or something that flagrantly crosses the road into hate speech,” a Spyglass spokesperson mentioned.
Upon seeing in depth help from followers, Melissa spoke with Leisure Tonight in April 2024 about how “unimaginable” it was to see positivity.
“It was so sudden,” she mentioned concerning the followers’ response. “For some motive, I didn’t count on to get a lot help and to really feel like a military behind [me]. And it was so lovely. I’ve gotten the prospect to go to conventions since and really meet the followers and proceed to listen to from them, the help and that they’re with me and that they’ve my again. It’s simply so particular.”
Melissa performed Vanessa within the movie In The Heights.
Vanessa Morales is Usnavi’s love curiosity within the 2021 movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. Vanessa works on the native salon, Daniela’s, however desires of a profession in vogue. Usnavi is performed by Hamilton alum Anthony Ramos. “It’s nonetheless unbelievable to me that I’m part of this, having been an enormous fan of the present,” Melissa mentioned in an announcement. “I noticed it, most likely, 15 occasions on Broadway. I nonetheless really feel, ‘How is that this even actual?’ I’m so pleased with every individual and what they completed, and so fortunate that I not solely started working with them, however now I get to name them ‘household.’ It’s what we turned, what we’re.”
Melissa rose to fame on Vida.
Melissa obtained essential approval for her function as Lyn within the STARZ collection Vida, which ran for 3 seasons. The present gained the GLAAD Media Award for Excellent Comedy Sequence in 2019. The function of Lyn had a profound impact on Melissa. “I really feel like I’m one other human being now. Three years later, after three seasons capturing this present and being Lyn, I’m modified. I’m utterly modified, in quite a lot of methods,” she advised Collider.
Melissa is married.
Melissa is married to Paco Zazueta. They wed in 2019 after getting engaged in 2017. Melissa and Paco met on the set of the fact present La Academia in 2011.
Melissa is from Mexico.
The actress hails from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. She went on to check musical theater at New York College Tisch Faculty of the Arts. After graduating, Melissa nabbed the main function in Siempre Tuya Acapulco. “It was a giant deal as a result of I’d solely achieved small components in telenovelas previous to that and I used to be younger in comparison with main girls in different telenovelas,” she mentioned. “I used to be shocked and nervous. I had by no means led a telenovela, which meant capturing 20 or extra scenes a day, six days per week and mainly carrying the story,” she advised The New York Instances.
