AceShowbiz - Melissa Barrera, best known for her role as Sam Carpenter in the "Scream" franchise, has revealed she hasn't been in touch with her former co-star Neve Campbell since her abrupt exit from the series.

In a recent interview with Decider, Barrera expressed her full respect for Campbell's decision to return to "Scream 7" although they haven't spoken since her firing. "We haven't really spoken," Barrera said. "I think everyone makes their choices, and what they think is best for them. I fully respect what people think that they need to do, to keep going in this life."

Barrera's departure from the franchise came in November 2023 after she posted on social media criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza. Her Instagram Story labeled Gaza as being treated like a "concentration camp" and accused Israel of "genocide" and "ethnic cleansing."

These statements led to her being dropped by Spyglass Media, the production company behind "Scream 7", which accused her of "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."

Following her dismissal, Barrera has been steadfast in her beliefs and unrepentant about her comments. In an April interview with the Los Angeles Times, she stated, "It wasn't easy to be labeled as something so horrible [as antisemitic] when I knew that wasn't the case."

"But I was always at peace, because I knew I had done nothing wrong. I was aligned with human rights organizations globally, and so many experts and scholars and historians and, most importantly, Indigenous peoples around the world. I find that the Indigenous communities around the world are always on the right side of history, point-blank, period."

Barrera's "Scream" co-stars, including Jenna Ortega and director Christopher Landon, also exited the franchise shortly after her firing. Ortega cited scheduling conflicts with her series "Wednesday" as the reason for her departure.

Meanwhile, Campbell, who had not appeared in "Scream 6" due to a pay dispute, announced her return to the franchise, along with original "Scream" director Kevin Williamson, just a few months after Ortega's exit.

Since leaving "Scream", Barrera has kept busy with various roles, such as appearing in the vampire comedy "Abigail" and the indie horror-comedy "Your Monster". Despite the controversy, Barrera has retained her stance on human rights and continues to speak out on behalf of marginalized communities.

Barrera's story serves as a stark reminder of the pressures celebrities face when taking public stances on highly sensitive and divisive issues, balancing personal beliefs with professional repercussions.