Daily News 19

Tag: ICE

  • Matthew Lillard Regrets ‘Scream 7’ Role After Melissa Barrera Firing

    Matthew Lillard Regrets ‘Scream 7’ Role After Melissa Barrera Firing

    Matthew Lillard has expressed deep regret over his decision to return for Scream 7 following the firing of co-star Melissa Barrera, who was removed from the franchise after social media posts criticizing Israel during the war in Gaza. Lillard, who originated the role of Stu Macher in Wes Craven’s 1996 classic Scream, reprised the character for the seventh installment, which opened in February and became the highest-grossing entry in the series with $214 million worldwide.

    Lillard Addresses Political Activism at Anniversary Screening

    During a recent 30th-anniversary screening of the original Scream, a fan asked Lillard about the difficulty of speaking out on political issues as an actor. The question followed headlines from last year when Lillard shouted “fuck ICE” at a Scream screening.

    “I don’t know how else to do it,” Lillard told the fan (via Entertainment Weekly). “For me, I have queer kids. If I’m not standing up for queer kids or kids in the trans community, then what the fuck am I doing? If I’m not standing up against ICE, then what the fuck am I doing?”

    Lillard acknowledged that activism isn’t always straightforward, citing the fallout surrounding Barrera as a prime example. “I don’t think it’s easy all the time,” he noted.

    Barrera’s Firing and Studio Statement

    Spyglass Media Group, the franchise’s producer, terminated Barrera after she had starred in two installments and was preparing to return for Scream 7. The company issued a statement declaring “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.”

    Lillard Condemns the Decision, Calls Barrera “On the Right Side of History”

    Lillard did not hold back in his criticism of the studio’s move, directly linking Barrera’s dismissal to her commentary on the conflict in Gaza.

    “Melissa Barrera, who’s a beautiful actor, was fired for what she said after the whole Palestinian — what started happening in Israel,” Lillard said. “It’s really fucking bullshit and really hard, and she’s on the right side of history. When they start coming after your job, sometimes things are worth it… When that happened to Melissa, the whole world didn’t pipe up. But she was a year early on what the fuck’s going on. But the whole world should have popped up and said, ‘She’s right.’ And they didn’t. And that’s brutal.”

    “I Feel Ashamed”: Lillard Confronts His Own Complicity

    The actor then turned the lens on himself, admitting he failed to consider the implications of returning to the franchise without Barrera.

    “I went back to do ‘Scream,’ and I got called out. And I’m like, ‘Oh, fuck. That’s brutal,’” he continued. “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 didn’t say no. 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.”

    Backlash and Boycott Calls Followed “Scream 7” Release

    After war broke out in Gaza in 2023, Barrera used Instagram to share her views, accusing Israel of “genocide and ethnic cleansing.” The posts led directly to her firing, which in turn ignited a wave of backlash against Scream 7. Supporters of Barrera and Palestine organized protests outside the film’s Los Angeles premiere and called for a boycott of the horror sequel.

  • Family of ICU Nurse Alex Pretti Demands Justice 7 Months After Fatal Shooting by Federal Officers in Minneapolis

    Family of ICU Nurse Alex Pretti Demands Justice 7 Months After Fatal Shooting by Federal Officers in Minneapolis

    Seven months after 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, his family has broken their silence in a televised exclusive, demanding accountability for what they describe as the murder of their son. The interview, aired on Good Morning America, marks the first time Michael and Susan Pretti, along with their daughter Micayla, have spoken publicly about the January 24 incident that left the Department of Veterans Affairs ICU nurse dead on a city sidewalk. Read also: Family Demands Justice 7 Months After Nurse Shot by Feder…. Read also: Trump Administration Moves to Open 45 Million Acres of National Forests to Logging and Road Construction.

    According to the family and eyewitness footage reviewed by investigators, Pretti was observing immigration enforcement activity when an officer shoved a woman into him. Video shows Pretti attempting to assist the woman with both hands visible — one holding a phone, the other raised as if to shield himself from pepper spray — before being wrestled to the ground. His legally permitted firearm was removed by an officer while he was pinned down, followed by approximately ten shots. His mother, Susan Pretti, emphasized the detail that haunts them: the shots struck him in the back.

    The Prettis learned of their son's death not through official channels, but by recognizing his jacket and sunglasses in news footage broadcast that day. "That's how we found out, watching it on TV. Watching our son be shot ten times on TV," Michael Pretti said. In the months since, the family says they have received no complete explanation and seen no one held responsible.

    Pretti's death came barely two weeks after another U.S. citizen, Renee Good, was shot and killed by an ICE officer in the same city during the Trump administration's "Operation Metro Surge" immigration crackdown. The back-to-back fatalities ignited nationwide scrutiny over the use of deadly force by federal agents operating in local communities. Both cases remain under investigation, with advocates arguing they reflect a broader pattern of insufficient oversight when federal enforcement operations intersect with civilian life.

    Beyond the immediate tragedy, the case has drawn attention to the role of bystander video in documenting encounters with law enforcement — and the risks faced by those who choose to bear witness. Pretti, described by his father as someone who "cared deeply about his community" and believed in fair treatment regardless of background, was recording when the confrontation escalated. His death raises urgent questions about the rights of legal observers, the rules of engagement for federal officers in domestic operations, and the mechanisms of accountability when those lines are crossed.