Entertainment
Taylor Swift Attends 2026 MTV VMAs Solo Without Travis Kelce
The showgirl herself — a.k.a. Taylor Swift — has made her grand return to the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Swift, 36, strutted down the Saturday, September 27, red carpet at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater dressed in a Tamara Ralph halter gown featuring a black corset and silver skirt. She completed her ensemble with diamond earrings from Leviev and Anito Ko, Le Silla pumps, and Forever Diamonds and Etho Maria rings and a rosy lip.
For glam, the pop star showed off her newly cut bob and blunt bangs.
Swift, however, didn’t have husband Travis Kelce on her arm, as the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 36, was in Miami for a football game against the Miami Dolphins earlier on Sunday. (The Chiefs beat the Dolphins 24-10.)
Swift, who last attended the VMAs in 2024, is up for 11 trophies, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Choreography, Best Visual Effects, Best Album and Song of the Summer. Swift will also receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors.
“The MTV VMA Artist Director Honors celebrates a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice,” a press release read. “A seven-time VMAs Best Director nominee and four-time winner, Swift has emerged as one of the most distinctive directors of her generation, using music video as an extension of her songwriting and developing a visual language that blends narrative, symbolism, humor and autobiographical themes.”

The statement adds, “Across her work, Swift has brought an increasingly expansive approach to storytelling, creating interconnected narratives, cinematic worlds and recurring details that invite audiences deeper into each project. The inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors recognizes that body of work, while also underscoring the growing role artists play in shaping how their music is brought to life on screen.”
Swift directed videos for “The Fate of Ophelia” and “Opalite” from her 2025 studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, both of which were recognized at the VMAs. Days before the ceremony, Swift dropped an extended version of the record with four new songs.
“About a year ago, you guys did a truly unfathomable thing. Something that completely blew my mind. You gave The Life of a Showgirl the biggest first week for an album in history,” Swift wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, September 23. “I took a trip to Sweden to celebrate with Max [Martin] and Shellback, my two collaborators on this album. Really we just wanted to reflect and take in how grateful we were for the moment we were in, but there was a studio there and we did what we do when we feel anything at all: We wrote more songs.”
She continued, “I hope you love them, because they were born out of pure gratitude for your exuberance for and celebration of the album we made.”
The new songs are “Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon.”
Entertainment
Kacey Musgraves Leads Dolly Parton Tribute at MTV VMAs 2026
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Kacey Musgraves performed a soulful tribute to the late Dolly Parton at the 2026 MTV Music Video Awards.
The “Architect” singer, 38, took to the stage on Sunday, September 27, for a beautiful cover of “I Will Always Love You,” wearing a fuchsia crystal gown with a plunging neckline and a feather trim by Miron, in honor of the late Parton.
MTV integrated archival footage of Parton singing her signature ballad to make it appear as if Musgraves was duetting with the country music icon.
Us learned that Musgraves actually prerecorded her tribute to Parton in Los Angeles earlier this week because she has a Middle of Nowhere Tour date at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Sunday.
“Wow, now that’s how you honor a legend,” VMA host Snoop Dogg told viewers after the performance.
The memorial segment began with an archival clip of Parton on stage, offering some words of wisdom to the men in the audience.
“I’d like to leave you fellas with a bit of advice,” she began. “Don’t criticize your wife’s judgment; after all, she picked you!”
Musgrave’s salute to Parton aired just over one month after the legendary country star’s family announced her death at age 80 on August 25.
“Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee,” her family said in a statement at the time. “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth and kindness that made us all feel like family.”
Their statement concluded, “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”
Hours later, Parton’s spokesperson confirmed that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee had died following a “brief battle with cancer.”

Dolly Parton and Kacey Musgraves perform during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Tributes poured in from throughout the entertainment community — with Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Aniston and even President Donald Trump reflecting on Parton’s legacy. Parton’s long-time friend Reba McEntire covered her 1983 hit “Appalachian Memories” for a solemn memorial segment at the Emmy Awards 2026 on September 14.
Musgraves initially tweeted that “the world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden” in the wake of Parton’s death on August 25.
“So glad she’s with her [late husband] Carl Dean. No one talk to me today,” Musgraves added. “I’m really okay if my feed never goes back to normal. It’s not doom-scrolling it’s Dolly-scrolling.”
The eight-time Grammy winner has since honored Parton at several of her Middle of Nowhere Tour stops, admitting to fans at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on August 31 that she is “never going to be over” the icon’s death.
“The world definitely lost a light, and it’s hard for me to talk about,” she explained. “I know how much Dolly meant to everybody also in this room. I think why it feels so dark is it’s already hard to navigate these times right now, and then we lose a matriarch like that. It’s the closest thing we’ve ever had to royalty.”
The MTV Video Music Awards 2026 aired live on MTV, CBS and Paramount+ from the Peacock Theater on Sunday. A replay of the ceremony will be available on Monday, September 28, on Paramount+.
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg Jokes Madonna Is ‘Not a Virgin No More’ at MTV VMA
Snoop Dogg kicked off his 2026 MTV Video Music Awards hosting gig with an epic monologue that yes, poked fun at the Queen of pop.
Snoop, 54, took to the stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, moments after Madonna was joined by Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX — among a slew of other famous faces many of Us would be forgiven for missing — for a medley of Confessions II single “Bring Your Love” and “Danceteria Afterhours.”
“Madonna just killed it. Now that is an icon. One thing I want to say is, she ain’t a virgin no more,” Snoop quipped.
The hip-hip icon also celebrated the MTV VMAs’ return to the West Coast for the first time in nine years.
“Having this show hosted by me, in my city, means two things: one, tonight is going to be the biggest party the VMAs has ever seen,” he promised. “And two, it wouldn’t be a Snoop Dogg party if I didn’t provide some of that special sticky icky — hold on, that’s for every winner here tonight.”
Closing out the brief monologue, Snoop told a “knock-knock joke,” asking the star-studded crowd, “Knock Knock?”
“Who’s there?” the crowd responded, with Snoop quipping, “Deez Nuts.”
CBS and MTV announced on September 10 that Snoop would be hosting the VMAs this year.
“MTV and the VMAs have been part of my story since the beginning,” the rapper said in a statement at the time. “Some of the biggest moments of my career happened on that stage and on MTV — they gave hip-hop a place to be loud, fearless and seen by the whole world. So to come back now and host the VMAs, all these years later, that’s a full-circle moment for me.”

Snoop Dogg speaks onstage during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. Kevin Winter/Getty Images
He continued, “Doing it with my brother [producer] Van Toffler makes it even more special. Van was there during those early MTV days when we were changing the culture in real time, and we’ve got a whole lot of history together. Now we get to make some new history. The VMAs have always been about those moments you don’t forget — and trust me, we’re gonna give y’all a few more. See you at the VMAs.”
In an interview with Variety, Toffler gushed of Snoop, “He and I did do Doggy Fizzle Televizzle at MTV [a 2002 sketch comedy series]. And we tried a ‘late night after dark’ show in the heart of Hollywood many years ago [Dogg After Dark in 2009]. He’s fun as hell and just the best. So I think L.A. and Snoop is a lethal combo.”
This year’s VMAs mark the show’s move to the West Coast for the first time since 2017.
Snoop comes to the 2026 VMAs with 13 nominations and three wins throughout his career, including Best Rap Video in 1994 for “Doggy Dogg World” and Best Art Direction for “So Many Pros” in 2015.
The “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper made his main stage debut at the awards show in 1994, performing “Murder Was the Case.” He later closed out the VMAs with Dr. Dre and Eminem in 1999. In 2003, Snoop joined a group of other artists on the stage in a tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., while in 2022, he and Eminem performed their collab “From the D 2 the LBC.”
In addition to his storied rap career, Snoop has ventured into film and television, with projects such as Doggy Fizzle Televizzle, the horror flick Bones and the reality competition show The Voice under his belt. He has also written and coauthored several cookbooks and children’s books and owns multiple businesses, from hip-hop label Death Row Records to venture capital firm Casa Verde Capital to the canned beverage line Gin & Juice.
The MTV Video Music Awards 2026 aired live on MTV, CBS and Paramount+ from the Peacock Theater on Sunday. A replay of the ceremony will be available on Monday, September 28, on Paramount+.
Entertainment
Candace Cameron Bure’s Son Lev, Wife Elliott Welcome 1st Baby
Candace Cameron Bure is officially a grandmother after her son Lev Bure welcomed his first baby with his wife, Elliott Bure.
“Welcome baby boy!!!!” Elliott wrote via Instagram on Sunday, September 27, revealing that her newborn son, Bond Leo, was born prematurely. “Bond was born 10 weeks early at exactly 3 lbs and was transferred immediately to the NICU — through lots of tears, countless prayers, and what felt like endless hours in the hospital, 5 weeks and 5 days later, we finally brought our miracle boy home!!”
She continued, “Thank you to the entire staff of nurses and doctors who took the most incredible care of our baby, and to our community who we couldn’t have done any of it without! Thank you Jesus for every answered prayer!!!!! we are blessed beyond measure!!!!”
Candace, 50, referred to her first grandchild as a “miracle baby” in the comments section.
“Our hearts could not be more full of love,” the actress replied. “You and Lev are the most amazing parents, and we are here for every minute of it 🙌🏼❤️. We love you all sooooooo much.”
Lev and Elliott announced in May 2026 that they were expecting their first baby.
“Baby Bure coming soon !!!!!!” Elliott gushed via Instagram, sharing maternity photos.
Candace was immediately thrilled to become a grandmother — or “CandyGram” as she planned to be called.
“Are you KIDDING?!! Another grandbaby on the way !!!!!” the Full House alum wrote via Instagram that month, also referring to her daughter Natasha Bure Perry’s own pregnancy. “Does life get any better?!!! CandyGram x2 = fully ignited 🍭💖👶🏼. Congratulations Lev and @elliottpbure 🎈, we are still pinching ourselves!! 🥰.”
Candace and her husband, Valeri Bure, are parents of daughter Natasha and sons Lev and Maksim. (Natasha and her husband, actor Bradley Steven Perry, are currently expecting their first baby.)
“😍🥳🐣😇❤️ baby party started!!!,” Natasha replied to Lev and Elliott’s announcement. “Cutie cousins incoming.”
Candace exclusively confirmed to Us in November 2023 that Lev had proposed to Elliott.
“We are gaining a daughter very soon. My son is getting married just after Christmas, and so we’re very excited,” Candace told Us. “She is definitely, definitely invited into the family, but we’ll see how the holidays work out in that way. Now it’s, like, two families. We’ll probably be vying for the kids every year.”
She added at the time, “I’m definitely finding my place in the wedding and just being supportive and I love that. Of course, I want to help and do everything, but I’m learning to settle into my position of just being available and supportive.”
Candace and Valeri were by Lev’s side when he and Elliott said “I do” in January 2024.
“I think the marriage advice has been [given] along the way. That’s what parenting is, right? It’s just like constant teaching and advice,” Candace told Us of the mother-of-the-groom advice she passed down to Lev and his now-spouse. “They are great people, and we are rooting them on. They’re amazing. I think the best advice for them is that they know that we’re here for them for any questions, any needs that they want. We’re always here and ready to be available and answer.”
Marveling over the nuptials via Instagram, Candace gushed that her “heart was so full.”
“We gained a beautiful daughter and a wonderful family to do life with,” Candace captioned wedding photos via Instagram in 2024. I have an overwhelming sense of love, joy, peace and contentment thanks to God’s blessing of family and friendship.”
Entertainment
MTV VMAs 2026 Hottest Couples on the Red Carpet
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet was sizzling from start to finish, highlighting the hottest couples in the music industry and beyond.
Dave Grohl and wife Jordyn Blum were among the first stars to arrive at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, on Sunday, September 27, setting the tone for the celebratory evening. (Grohl also posed for photos with his former bandmates Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear ahead of their iconic band, Nirvana, receiving the Video Vanguard Award.)
All eyes were on “Ordinary” singer Alex Warren and his wife, Kouvr Annon, meanwhile, as they posed for pictures together before heading inside the venue.
Prior to the Moon Person statues being handed out, Chanel West Coast and her fiancé, Dom Fenison, turned heads in their coordinated ensembles — and they weren’t the only dynamic duo fans couldn’t stop talking about.
Scroll down to which of your favorite couples walked the 2026 VMAs red carpet:
Entertainment
Brandon Sklenar Unrecognizable Going Blond at MTV VMAs 2026
The Housemaid star Brandon Sklenar had Us doing a complete double take at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards thanks to his new ‘do.
Sklenar, 36, stepped out on Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater red carpet on Sunday, September 27, looking casually cool in a black leather bomber jacket over a white T-shirt and coordinating black trousers. The actor accessorized his ensemble with a pair of dark aviator shades and Also snake-printed boots.
Completing his styling, Sklenar traded his signature dark locks for a platinum, cropped hair makeover.
Sklenar stepped out on Sunday alongside his The Rescue costar Hassie Harrison, who looked lovely in a black sheath dress with her own blonde tresses piled into an elegant updo.
Sklenar and Harrison, 36, play a former couple who unite to rescue their daughter after she is kidnapped in the 2027 thriller.
“Ninety percent of this film is outside in nature, and I spent most of the time working with a dog and a horse,” Sklenar told People in an interview published Wednesday, September 23, teasing his new role as an ex-rodeo cowboy. “Seeing how that affects the crew and just the overall vibe on set, it’s a different tone when you’re in nature on a horse with a dog for a majority of scenes and filming.”

He continued, “It’s a different feeling, and it can be very meditative and healing spending that much time with a dog and a horse in nature all at once.”
In preparing for the Western film, Sklenar relied on his Yellowstone universe training.
“I just kind of took to it pretty well and then competed in a cattle cutting competition with Taylor [Sheridan] and some other people from some of his shows, and I did all right at that,” the 1923 alum quipped. “I was very comfortable on a horse. Love being on a horse, love riding fast on a horse. I feel like I understand them and I have a good way with them.”
Entertainment
Why Travis Kelce Is Not at MTV VMAs 2026 With Taylor Swift
Travis Kelce had a very good reason for not attending the MTV Video Music Awards 2026 with his wife, Taylor Swift.
The “Patient Zero” singer-songwriter, 36, is expected to arrive solo at MTV’s annual music gala at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, to accept the first-ever MTV VMA Artist Director Honors.
Her husband Kelce, 36, is unable to join her during the celebratory evening due to his own busy schedule — his Kansas City Chiefs were busy taking on the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday. (The Chiefs emerged victorious in a 24-10 win.)
Kelce has previously supported Swift when she received industry honors, including flying from the Chiefs minicamp to attend her induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City in June. (Swift and Kelce tied the knot in a star-studded ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York City on July 3.)
Meanwhile, MTV and CBS announced on Monday, September 21, that Swift would be given the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honor at this year’s ceremony.
The brand new VMAs category celebrates “a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice.”
Swift is certainly worthy of being the first recipient of the award as she has received seven Best Director nominations and four wins throughout her career. She also holds the record for most VMA wins of all time with 31, putting her ahead of Beyoncé’s 30 total wins.
“Across her work, Swift has brought an increasingly expansive approach to storytelling, creating interconnected narratives, cinematic worlds and recurring details that invite audiences deeper into each project,” MTV and CBS said in a statement. “The inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honor recognizes that body of work, while also underscoring the growing role artists play in shaping how their music is brought to life on screen.”

Taylor Swift accepts the Video of the Year Award during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV
Swift was once again up for Best Director this year, as her “Opalite” clip was pitted against Christian Breslauer’s direction of Ariana Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me”, Bruno Mars and Daniel Ramos’ collaboration on Mars’ “I Just Might,” Romain Gavras’ visualization for Gener8ion and Yung Lean’s “Storm,” TORSO’s work on Madonna’s “Confessions II – The Film” and Sabrina Carpenter and Margaret Qualley’s adaptation of Carpenter’s “House Tour.”
Swift came into this year’s VMAs with 11 total nominations for her Life of a Showgirl album, second only to Madonna’s 12 total nods for Confessions II. Among Swift’s nominations this year were Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia” and Artist of the Year.
Aside from winning the MTV VMA Artist Director Honor, Swift also premiered the music video for new single “Patient Zero” during the gala. (“Patient Zero” is one of four new tracks featured on an expanded edition of her 2025 album, now retitled The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore.)
The MTV Video Music Awards 2026 aired live on MTV, CBS and Paramount+ from the Peacock Theater on Sunday. A replay of the ceremony will be available on Monday, September 28, on Paramount+.
Entertainment
Jason Statham’s $530M Sci-Fi Franchise-Starter Is Officially Ready to Devour Streaming
Jason Statham has faced plenty of foes: hackers, mutineers, traffickers, mafia bosses, and more. But his biggest foe to date has been, well, quite literally enormous. And when you discover that there’s a 75-foot enemy hunting you from the deep, what’s the best ploy? Closing the beach seems sensible. You’ve seen Jaws, you know how it works. Staying on dry land feels even better. Not for the Stath.
Statham (The Beekeeper) stars in The Meg, which officially found a new streaming home last week when the sci-fi monster movie landed on HBO Max in the United States. Jon Turteltaub’s (National Treasure) gloriously silly 2018 blockbuster became a much bigger hit than anyone expected, eventually earning more than $530 million worldwide and spawning a sequel.
In The Meg, a massive creature attacks a deep-sea submersible, leaving it disabled and trapping the crew at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. With time running out, rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Statham) must save the crew and the ocean itself from an unimaginable threat: a 75-foot-long prehistoric shark known as the megalodon.
The cast also features Li Bingbing (Transformers: Age of Extinction) as Suyin Zhang, Rainn Wilson (The Office) as Jack Morris, Ruby Rose (Orange Is the New Black) as Jaxx Herd, Cliff Curtis (Avatar: The Way of Water) as James “Mac” Mackreides, Winston Chao (The Wedding Banquet) as Dr. Minway Zhang, Page Kennedy (Rush Hour) as DJ, and Jessica McNamee (Mortal Kombat) as Lori.
How Good Is ‘The Meg’?
Okay, so nobody was expecting “Jason Statham, Shark Puncher” to be a critical hit, let’s be honest. And the reaction from critics reflects this, with the movie currently sitting at 46% on Rotten Tomatoes. But judging it on a scale of anything other than, well, Statham punching a shark seems silly, and audiences certainly understood the assignment. The Meg opened at No. 1 domestically before swimming all the way to approximately $530 million worldwide, including roughly $155 million in North America and another $155 million from China. It became the highest-grossing Chinese-American co-production at the time and comfortably earned itself another encounter with prehistoric sea life.
That sequel, Meg 2: The Trench, followed in 2023 with Statham returning as Jonas. It added more giant sharks and even more prehistoric monsters because, apparently, the lesson from the first movie was that one megalodon simply isn’t enough. The Meg is streaming now on HBO Max in the United States.
- Release Date
-
August 10, 2018
- Runtime
-
113 minutes
- Director
-
Jon Turteltaub
- Writers
-
Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber, Dean Georgaris, Steve Alten
- Producers
-
Belle Avery, Colin Wilson, Lorenzo di Bonaventura
Entertainment
Tia Kemp Reacts To His Girlfriend’s Assault Allegations
Tia Kemp is weighing in after Jazzma Kendrick, the girlfriend of Rick Ross, accused him of physically assaulting her. Kendrick shared a series of social media posts of the allegations, including a photo of her bruised lip. She was his “punching bag,” she alleged. Kemp, meanwhile, had a message for the girls: leave the mansion and keep a job while suggesting that Rick wouldn’t hit anyone.
RELATED: We See You! Tia Kemp Reacts Alongside Internet Users As Victoria Woods Shows Off Her New Smile (VIDEO + PHOTOS)
Jazzma Kendrick Accuses Rick Ross Of Hitting Her
Rick Ross’ girlfriend has told the world that the rapper put his hands on her, leading her to end the relationship. As said, she shared these details in a series of Instagram Stories’ posts on Saturday (Sept. 26). A fan had appeared to reply to her selfie post, writing, “I’m seeing what Rick is seeing your so gorgeous.” Sharing a screenshot of that, she added the text, “He saw a punching bag.” In another post, she shared a close-up photo of her lip and cheek, writing, “The day Rick busted my lip and the day I left.” A third post was a selfie of Jazzma Kendrick pulling up top lip upwards to reveal a deep purple bump and bruise. She added the text:
“I don’t know a lot of things, but I do know that a man put his hands on me, is a man that never loved me and never will.”
Lastly, a fourth post by Jazzma, as screenshotted by The Shade Room, included some advice. “It’s always good until it isn’t. If a man hits you one time, he will do it again. Don’t give him the opportunity. Value your life and leave,” Kendrick wrote.
Tia Kemp Sends A Message To The Girls & Her Ex-Boyfriend
After The Shade Room shared Jazzma Kendrick’s assault allegations, Tia Kemp dropped by the comment section with a few words. Kemp and Rick share a 21-year-old son, Williams Robert III, the rapper’s eldest and previously dated between 2003 and 2007. Tia spoke of knowing when to leave.
“Ladies when that man say go home…lawdddd…That ride home with garbage bags of your clothes n that backseat hurts trust me…it hurts! That’s all. They want to b n the mansion 4ever…..go home baby….and keep a job,” Tia Kemp commented, adding exclamation point, 100% and prayer hand emojis.
Kemp also hopped on live on one of her social profiles and doubled down on her message about leaving when it’s time. She also seemed suggest that Rick Ross wouldn’t hit anyone and that she warned him about messing with “prostitutes.”
“…You can’t stay in the mansion forever, it’s temporary, it’s called fun times. I ain’t feeling sorry for no h*e. I ain’t cause one thing that fat b*tch ain’t finna do is hit nobody. You [inaudible] yourself girl. I don’t believe sh*t, it’s cameras all around that new state of the art house. Will pull up the cameras, they can’t get none of that money now. Ain’t nobody getting none of that motherf**king money n*gga.”
Tia Kemp said that she has a week off and is on her way to check Rick Ross. She also warned Jazzma that she won’t be getting a penny of Ross’ estate, seemingly suggesting her abuse story is false.
“I told your fat a** stop playing with these prostituting, ex-prostitutes, tricking ass…didn’t I Willy? Didn’t I? Girl, if you think you finna get ay of that estate. B*tch we gon settle out with you for some Wingstop wings or something. We ain’t got no money for you girl.”
RELATED: Aww! Fans Take Notes As Rick Ross’ Girlfriend Has Him Cheesin’ And Glowing Up (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Melissa Barrera Reveals If She’d Return to Scream Franchise
Former Scream star Melissa Barrera is opening up about a possible return to the beloved horror movie franchise after she was fired for publicly supporting the Palestinian people amid the war in Gaza.
“Would you, if the Scream folks were to call back, do you think you would ever return to that world?” reporter Kate Schroeder asked the actress, 36, in a podcast interview shared on Friday, September 25.
“Not with the company that currently holds the rights,” Barrera, who starred as Sam Carpenter in 2022’s Scream and 2023’s Scream VI before she was let go ahead of the seventh installment. “I love the franchise. I had an amazing time making those movies but a lot of the hate and the difficulty that I’ve faced in the last years is because the leadership of that company made it a point to label me something that I’m not. And they never apologized, even when I was proven right.’
She continued, “Even with an apology I wouldn’t go back to work with them, so… not that I’m holding my breath. I don’t think they have that ability. But if the franchise were to ever leave those hands and go into hands that I think would honor Wes Craven’s legacy more, I think… yeah.”
Spyglass Media Group, which produces the Scream films, fired the actress in November 2023, citing her social media posts opposing Israel and the United States’ ongoing war in Gaza after the deadly October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas. To date, more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry as reported by the Associated Press, including more than 20,000 Palestinian children, per the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry.
“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have 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,” the company claimed in a statement released at the time, addressing Barrera’s unceremonious exit.
Barrera’s advocacy has once again made headlines in the wake of the ongoing controversy surrounding singer Ed Sheeran and Seattle rapper Macklemore, who was let go from the former’s Loop Tour after voicing his own support of the Palestinian people in opposition of genocide and human rights violations in every form.
“It made me emotional, you know,” Barrera told the Associated Press in a September 16 interview of Mackelmore’s steadfast advocacy and the subsequent response, which ultimately included the remaining acts in Sheeran’s tour dropping out in solidarity with Macklemore and the Palestinian people.
“I didn’t get that when it happened to me,” she continued at the time. “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.”
Matthew Lillard, Barrera’s former costar and one of the original 1996 Scream stars, also expressed his regret for not supporting Barrera after she was fired.
“When that happened to Melissa, the whole world didn’t pipe up,” Lillard said during a Q&A session held during a 30th anniversary screening of the original film earlier this month. “But she was a year early on what the f***’s going on. But the whole world should have popped up and said, ‘She’s right.’ And they didn’t. And that’s brutal.”
He added at the time, “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 didn’t say no. 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.”
Entertainment
2026 MTV VMAs Red Carpet Arrivals: Photos of Stars’ Outfits
Celebrities delivered all the drama for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Stars including Taylor Swift, Chloe Bailey, Lisa Rinna and more proved to be on their A-game with their fabulous ensembles at the awards show, which took place on Sunday, September 27, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. This year, Madonna, led the list with 13 nominations.
Swift, 36, is also up for 11 awards including Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia” and Artist of the Year. With her career total of 30 Moon Persons, Swift only needs one more to become the most awarded artist in the show’s history. She’s also receiving the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors, which recognizes groundbreaking artists whose work being the camera as a director has pushed creative boundaries.
Keep scrolling to see the hottest red carpet looks:
-
Fashion3 days agoWeekend Open Thread: J.McLaughlin – Corporette.com
-
Crypto World5 days agoGoldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank Agree: The S&P 500 Rally Isn't Over
-
Fashion4 days ago8 iPhone Accessories That Add Personality
-
Entertainment5 days agoThese 17 Fall Amazon Dresses Seriously Look Like Anthropologie
-
Tech5 days agoReolink’s solar 4K security camera falls to its lowest price in months
-
Tech7 hours agoOpenAI is preparing “o,” an always-on ChatGPT assistant that could handle email
-
Crypto World5 days agoThis Bearish Netflix Stock Trade Can Cash In On Video Streaming Giant’s Woes
-
Crypto World6 days agoTrump-Xi Polymarket Odds for Handshake Hit 50%
-
Tech7 days agoGoogle’s $899 Googlebook is a bet that you’ll buy a new laptop for Gemini
-
Crypto World4 days agoCrude Oil Prices Pressured by Diplomatic Hopes in the Middle East
-
Business5 days agoOil Price Today (September 23): Crude oil below $100 on hopes of US-Iran talks. What did Trump say?
-
Crypto World4 days agoBitcoin price tests $83,600 Supertrend support after $87K rejection
-
Crypto World4 days agoBitcoin Threatens Sub-$84,000 Breakdown as Long Liquidations Spike
-
Crypto World5 days agoBitGo says Bitcoin absorbed Fed hike, CLARITY failure
-
Crypto World6 days agoMeta Jumps 11% As Muse Shines and Investors Show an Appetite for Advancing AI
-
Crypto World5 days agoDid Jim Cramer Just Give GameStop Stock the Kiss of Death When He Said the Turnaround Is Working?
-
Crypto World7 days agoBitcoin price holds above $81K as key catalysts line up
-
Crypto World6 days agoTrump, Xi Meet on S&P 500's Best Day Since Early August: Will Markets Stay Bullish?
-
Tech4 days agoUiPath’s Dines says AI needs a manual and launches Cartographer to write it
-
Tech7 days agoAmazon blocks Meta’s Muse AI assistant in new standoff over agentic shopping









You must be logged in to post a comment Login