Emmanuel Macron expresses firm opinions on the potential relocation of 'Emily in Paris' to Rome.
They suggested keeping Emily in Paris, the main character from the show "Emily in Paris," in the city of Paris, as moving her to Rome doesn't fit the narrative, according to comments made to Variety in a published interview on Wednesday.
The series follows Emily Cooper, a 20-something American marketing executive, portrayed by Lily Collins, as she moves from Chicago to Paris for a job and gets to experience the vibrant life of the French capital. It regularly ranks among Netflix's most-streamed shows, and when Netflix announced renewing it for a fifth season, the show's creator, Darren Star, revealed that Emily will now have a presence in Rome.
Macron has had connections to the show. His wife, Brigitte, briefly appeared in season four, when Emily spotted her in a café and asked for a selfie. In the show's fictional universe, Brigitte shared Emily's social media post from season one, expressing surprise over the masculine French term for vagina, "le vagin."
Macron spoke highly of his wife's cameo. "I was really proud, and she was thrilled to do it," he said. He believed it was a good experience for her and positively impacted France's image with its depiction in the show.
Although the series has faced criticism for its portrayal of Parisian stereotypes and neglect of issues like homelessness in the city, it has boosted tourism to Paris, according to a study conducted by France's national film center in January. Almost 10% of tourists said they decided to visit France after watching a movie or series, with "Emily in Paris" inspiring around 38% of those vacation plans.
However, despite his wife's involvement in the show and its impact on tourism, Macron doesn't intend to appear in the series himself. "I'm less appealing than Brigitte," he told Variety.
The show's continuous success, with "Emily in Paris" regularly ranking among Netflix's most-streamed shows, largely depends on its engaging narrative and depiction of entertainment in Paris. This entertainment aspect, including Emily's experiences in the city, is a significant reason why viewers keep tuning in.
