Melissa Barrera Auctioning Off Virtual Chat with Her to Raise Money for Gaza

A website raising money for Palestinians in Gaza has tapped actress Melissa Barrera to donate her time to the fundraising effort. Cinema for Gaza is offering a chance to speak to Barrera via Zoom call to the highest bidder.

Cinema for Gaza is set up on the fundraising platform known as Givergy, which says they provide “a range of cutting-edge fundraising solutions” to individuals looking to give to a worthy cause. They refer to Barrera as “the bravest woman in Hollywood.”

“As soon as Cinema for Gaza formed Melissa Barrera was high on the list of our dream donors,” the webpage at Givergy reads. “She supported the humanity of Palestinians with unwavering commitment, and we are thrilled to offer an opportunity for one lucky person to have a Zoom [call] with her.”

The current high bid as of Wednesday morning (April 10) is a little over $3,000 (£2,375). Other auctions on the platform that were led by Latine celebrities included having a beer (over Zoom) with actress Tessa Thompson (Thor: Love and Thunder) and receiving one-of-a-kind books from Guillermo del Toro.

Hello! Fundraising with the wonderful @Cinema4Gaza and if you’d like to have a beer with Tessa Thompson, get a bedtime story from Tilda Swinton or a zoom with me to talk about your screenplay, bid here! All proceeds go to Medical Aid for Gaza. https://t.co/KtB5HxErgz

— Camilla Blackett (@camillard) April 8, 2024

Barrera became a central figure as a supporter of the Palestinians in Gaza after she was fired from the planned Scream 7 sequel for posting about the current conflict.

“Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp,” she wrote. “We must end the bombing of Gaza, secure the safe release of all hostages, and demand adequate access for humanitarian aid to reach the people that desperately need it. She also called the war in Gaza “genocide and ethnic cleansing.”

The studio behind Scream 7 released a statement calling Barrera’s posts “antisemitism” and an “incitement of hate.”

After her firing, Scream co-star Jenna Ortega also exited the Scream 7 sequel and more than 1,000 actors and artists signed a letter addressed to the arts and culture sector in support of outspoken voices like Barrera.