The actress recently urged her Instagram followers to donate to UNRWA to help 'all the martyrs in Gaza,' prompting WME and Sugar23 to reportedly consider firing her.
- Feb 3, 2024
AceShowbiz - Melissa Barrera has incited more controversy with her recent social media posts. The actress, who has been vocal about her support for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict with Israel, was reportedly almost dropped by her talent agency and management company over her recent posts.
Earlier this week, the "Scream" star posted a link in her Instagram bio that directed 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 plea came just one day after the Biden administration and other countries suspended aid to the UNRWA following accusations that 12 of its staff members were involved in October 7 terror attacks in Israel.
Barrera's posts reportedly became a major concern within WME, which consulted with outside advisors on the best approach to fire her to avoid a backlash, according to Variety. A representative for WME, however, has denied that the company consulted with outside advisors on the matter.
Meanwhile, sources says the agency and the actress' management company Sugar23 were mulling over whether or not to drop her as a client. However, on Thursday, February 1, both companies allegedly reversed their decision.
Barrera was previously dropped from "Scream VII" a.k.a. "Scream 7" due to her pro-Palestine posts. She also joined a pro-Palestine protest during the Sundance Film Festival in January.
Despite complaints from clients and staff, WME continued to represent the 33-year-old star, but her recent posts were seen as the "final straw" due to the shock caused by the UNRWA's ties to the terror attacks.
A source familiar with the internal debate at WME expressed dismay over its failure to take a quick action on the matter. "Before, WME could hide in the fuzziness and ambiguity of 'from the river, to the sea' and the implications of the amateur-hour collegiate activist messaging. But this is blatant terror support," the source argued.
Meanwhile, Barrera remains unfazed despite the backlash over her recent posts. As the UNRWA scandal widened, the "In the Heights" star wrote on Instagram, "Guess it's always up to the people. Made a fundraiser with @unrwa. donate what you can and share [heart emoji] may it be returned to you tenfold."
She also appeared to respond to the backlash over her earlier post on January 31, writing, "Apparently some people are mad that I'm sharing this fundraiser."
