Melissa Barrera Welcomes Support for Macklemore—and Reflects on Why She Didn’t Get the Same

If anyone understands the pressure, censorship, and controversy Macklemore is facing right now, it’s Melissa Barrera. Nearly three years ago, the actor was fired from Scream 7 after publicly criticizing the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza. Now, Barrera has weighed in on the current news cycle with a pointed question: why did Macklemore receive a wave of public support after facing professional consequences for pro-Palestinian comments, while Barrera says she received little of the same?

Barrera spoke out after Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour following controversy over his onstage support for Palestinians. In a video interview shared by AP, Barrera said, “It was so beautiful to see Finneas and the band and all the opening acts pulling out in support of Macklemore. It made me emotional.”

The actor then reflected on their own experience. “You know, I didn’t get that when it happened to me,” they said. “I didn’t have any of that happen. It was too soon. People were too scared. But it’s good to see that almost three years later, at least things have changed.”

Barrera is quick to say they’re glad support for Palestinians has grown—but it’s hard not to hear the implication that similar support should have come their way then. Barrera was dismissed from the Scream franchise in November 2023 after making a series of posts criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza. At the time, their firing became part of a much larger debate over how Hollywood responds to performers who speak publicly about the Israel-Palestine conflict. While co-star Jenna Ortega exited the horror franchise in support of Barrera, few outside their close circle spoke up.

Barrera’s comparison with Macklemore raises an obvious question: were the two situations treated differently because the entertainment industry has changed—or because Barrera didn’t receive the same level of support? It’s also hard to ignore that Macklemore is a white cis-het man while Barrera is a Latine woman.

Still, the cases differ in important ways. Barrera was an actor attached to a major film franchise, while Macklemore is a touring artist whose departure involved promoters and venues. Ed Sheeran has also said that removing Macklemore was not his decision, while venue owner Robert Kraft publicly criticized the rapper’s comments.

The question, then, may be less about whether Barrera and Macklemore faced identical circumstances and more about whether the entertainment industry has changed—or whether other factors were at play.