'Scream' star admits he's 'ashamed' of sequel return after actress fired over anti-Israel comments

"Scream" actor Matthew Lillard said Tuesday that he felt "ashamed" for returning to the horror franchise after actress Melissa Barrera was fired over social media posts about Israel and the war in Gaza, telling fans during a 30th anniversary screening in Austin, Texas, that he believed he ended up on the "wrong side of history." Lillard, who reprised his role as Stu Macher in the seventh installment, said his excitement about returning to the franchise overshadowed his concerns about how Barrera had been treated.

As reported by Entertainment Weekly , Lillard said, "I went back to do Scream, and I got called out.

And I’m like, ‘Oh, f---.

That’s brutal.’" "I feel bad about that.

I feel ashamed about that.

Because in that moment I was so excited to go back, I didn’t really think about Melissa and that journey." "I’m embarrassed, that’s the truth… I blew that.

I’m on the wrong side of history for that.

I still like being in the movie [but] it may not have been the best idea," Lillard continued.

PEREZ HILTON JOINS 'TOMI LAHREN IS FEARLESS' AND DECLARES CANCEL CULTURE IS NOW A SPORT Barrera was dropped from the franchise in November 2023 after publishing and sharing a series of posts criticizing Israel following Hamas' Oct.

7 terrorist attack.

In one post previously reported by Fox News Digital, Barrera accused Israel of committing "genocide" and "ethnic cleansing" in Gaza.

"Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp," Barrera said.

"Cornering everyone together, with no where to go, no electricity no water … People have [learned] nothing from our histories.

And just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen.