The series ‘Emily in Paris’ has become a streaming phenomenon, winning fans around the world since its launch in 2020.
However, the success of the Netflix production appears to have generated a wave of revolt among the French, who expressed their dissatisfaction through graffiti on the series’ locations in the French capital.
Parisians in revolt
According to information from the Paris Secret website, residents near the locations used to film ‘Emily in Paris’ are bothered by what they call ‘exaggerated tourism’ caused by the popularity of the series.
The graffiti, which includes messages such as “Emily, go away”, “Emily is not welcome” and “Emily sucks”, are a reflection of local discontent.
The Daily Mail reports that locals have dubbed the movement of fans visiting Paris for the series “L’invasion des imbéciles” (The Invasion of Idiots), highlighting growing frustration with the presence of tourists in areas affected by the filming.
Even the fictional building where the main character lives in the series did not escape graffiti.
Phrases spray-painted around the locations say: “Emily is not welcome” – Image: Daily Mail/Reproduction
The central reason for the conflict seems to be the ‘romanticization of the capital’ portrayed in the series, something that the French criticize as a “Paris Syndrome”.
The expression refers to the idea that tourists, influenced by idealized representations in books, films and series, arrive at city with unrealistic expectations, leading to possible ‘culture clashes’ when reality does not match their fantasies.
In the plot of ‘Emily in Paris’, the protagonist, played by Lily Collins, is an American publicist who moves to the city for a job opportunity, dealing with the challenges of managing her career, friendships and romances in a totally new.
The locations that suffered graffiti have become tourist attractions since the series’ release, with visitors posing outside establishments such as the restaurant ‘Les Deux Comperes’, which is actually called ‘Terra Nera’.
Hostile messages such as “the south of Paris is not yours” indicate the intensity of local discontent.
Despite the controversy, both the production of ‘Emily in Paris’ and the Netflix have not yet commented on the matter. Filming for the fourth season continues in Paris, without a premiere date.
The success of the work seems to have generated not only admirers, but also local critics dissatisfied with the consequences of ‘fiction tourism’ in their daily lives.
