Anna Faris reveals 'Scary Movie 6' cut a joke referencing Melania Trump's 'Be Best' campaign
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Anna Faris has revealed that a scene referencing first lady Melania Trump was removed from the latest installment of the 'Scary Movie' franchise, which hit theaters on Friday, June 5.
While discussing Cindy Campbell’s return, Faris shared that a deleted scene was originally meant to reflect her vision for the character, featuring a direct reference to Melania's "Be Best" initiative from her first stint in the White House.
Anna Faris opens up about her plans for Cindy Campbell
Faris said she wanted Campbell to return as a very different character than audiences had seen before. “I was pitching that Cindy be, like, in a MAGA rabbit hole,” the 49-year-old shared, adding, “Like one of those women who started fights in Costco during quarantine.”
According to the actress, that concept led to a scene she particularly enjoyed. Faris recalled a moment in which Cindy, while drunk and sitting in her truck, tried to motivate herself using a phrase associated with the first lady.
“There was a scene where I’m drunk in my truck, and I look in the rearview mirror, and I’m like, ‘Be best, Cindy Campbell. Be best,’” Faris said, before going on to explain that the line was meant as a subtle joke referencing her public campaign.
“And it was just a little wink to Melania,” she added. The actress also noted that the scene was eventually removed from the film, despite being one of her preferred comedic moments.
The deleted joke referenced the 'Be Best' initiative, a campaign launched in 2018 that focused on children's well-being, social media use, and online behavior. While the program became a defining project of the first lady’s time in the White House, it also faced criticism and public scrutiny throughout its run.
Anna Faris reflects on 'Scary Movie' comeback, franchise snub and feeling undervalued
Faris also discussed the irreverent nature of the 'Scary Movie' franchise and the creative freedom that came with working on a series known for pushing comedic boundaries. Reflecting on the experience, she said, “It’s so offensive, and there’s something really liberating about that.”
The actress returns to the franchise alongside Regina Hall, Marlon Wayans, and Shawn Wayans. The last installment of the long-running parody series was released more than a decade ago.
Appearing on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast hosted by Josh Horowitz, she recalled initially believing she had little chance of landing the original 'Scary Movie' role because she had no background in comedy. She admitted battling years of imposter syndrome before finally feeling comfortable calling herself “funny.”
Addressing her absence from 'Scary Movie 5', which is often regarded as the weakest entry in the franchise and holds a 4% score on Rotten Tomatoes, she explained, “I wasn't invited to do Scary Movie 5. The franchise got taken away from the Wayans Brothers after 'Scary Movie 2', I was under contract to do 'Scary Movie 3' and I went on and did four, and then wasn't asked to do five, but the conversation was still percolating.”
Faris added that her agent would revisit discussions about reviving the series “every few years” as new executives explored bringing it back. However, she was reluctant to return because she felt both she and Hall had been “undervalued financially” during their time with the franchise.
