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Melissa Barrera is once again under fire for a series of new social media posts related to the Israel-Gaza conflict, prompting her representatives at WME and Sugar23 to explore the possibility of dropping the actress as a client.
The “In the Heights” and “Scream” star earlier this week posted a link in her Instagram bio directing her followers to donate money to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. in the Near East to benefit “all the martyrs in Gaza and the West Bank.” The petition was considered particularly inflammatory given that Barrera posted the link a day after the Biden administration and several other countries suspended aid to the organization. following explosive accusations that 12 UNRWA employees were directly involved in the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, including two who participated in kidnappings. Ten percent of the agency’s staff in Gaza reportedly have ties to Hamas and another Islamist militant group that the United States has designated a terrorist organization. On January 28, the United States announced its decision to freeze all of the group’s money.
Barrera’s posts quickly circulated throughout the industry and within WME, which consulted with outside advisors on the best way to fire her given that such a breakup could spark a backlash. (A WME representative denied that outside consultants had been recruited.) Sources say the agency and her management company, Sugar23, were on the verge of dropping her as a client. But on Thursday both decided to change course for now. WME and Sugar23 declined to comment.
In November, Spyglass Media fired Barrera from “Scream VII” over social media posts about the conflict, including one that accused Israel of “genocide and ethnic cleansing” and distorting “the Holocaust to boost the Israeli arms industry.” Barrera led the fifth and sixth “Scream” entries over the past two years and was set to star in the next “Scream” outing.
At the time, a Spyglass spokesperson explained the decision in a statement to Variety which read: “Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: we have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism or hate speech in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion, or anything that flagrantly crosses the line. of hate speech.”
At this month’s Sundance Film Festival, Barrera sang the controversial phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” during a pro-Palestinian protest on Main Street that attracted nearly 100 activists. The Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee have called the slogan anti-Semitic and see it as a threat to Israel’s continued existence as a Jewish state. WME was aware of her inflammatory rhetoric but continued to represent the actress even when her clients and staff complained, sources say.
But one insider says Barrera’s new posts were considered the “last straw” given widespread shock over the organization’s ties to the Oct. 7 attacks. The list of countries that have followed the United States in freezing funds for the organization includes Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, Japan, Austria and Romania. However, some politicians such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the Biden administration for its UNRWA decision, calling it “unacceptable.”
As the UNRWA scandal spread, Barrera doubled down, writing on Instagram: “I guess it always depends on the people. I did a fundraiser with @unrwa. Donate what you can and share (heart emoji) to get it back tenfold.” Another source familiar with the internal debate at WME expressed dismay at his inability to move quickly on the matter.
“Before, WME could hide in the confusion and ambiguity of ‘from the river to the sea’ and the implications of the messages of the collegiate amateur hour activists. But this is blatant support for terrorism,” says the source.
Barrera seemed to be aware of the commotion generated by his publications. On January 31, he wrote on Instagram: “Apparently some people are mad that I’m sharing this fundraiser.” She did not respond to a request for comment.
In the wake of October 7, a handful of people, including Barrera, have been kicked out of projects and by their representatives and employers because of their rhetoric. CAA cut ties with an employee and two clients over inflammatory anti-Israel posts on social media, while UTA fired Susan Sarandon as a client after she told a rally that American Jews who feel unsafe “are trying what what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country.”
CAA also relieved Senior Constable Maha Dakhil of her duties as co-head of the film department over her Instagram posts, including one that read: “What is more heartbreaking than witnessing a genocide? Witnessing the denial that a genocide is occurring.” (Dakhil, who represents Tom Cruise and Natalie Portman, apologized and remains an agent.) In perhaps the move with the most financial implications, BMG severed its relationship with rock legend and Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters over his statements about Israel. But some who call for Barrera’s ouster say her outrage has nothing to do with her expressing support for the Palestinian cause but rather with crossing several lines. A source notes that Mark Ruffalo has been outspoken about the conflict between Israel and Gaza and just scored an Oscar nomination for his role in “Poor Things.”
Barrera has one studio project on the way, the Universal horror film “Abigail.” It is unclear at this time if the studio will feature it in the marketing campaign and on tours. Although Barrera’s prospects in Hollywood may have dimmed in the wake of her posts, her social media profile has skyrocketed. She now has 1.5 million followers on Instagram, double what she had before asking for donations to UNRWA.