Ashley Park Faces Backlash Over Comments on New American Pope Leo XIV, See Video!

May 10, 2025: Actress Ashley Park has sparked controversy online following remarks she made about the recent election of Pope Leo XIV—the first American to become the head of the Catholic Church. Park, who is in Rome shooting Season 5 of Emily in Paris, shared now-deleted Instagram Stories that many viewers found disrespectful toward the historic moment and the Catholic faith.

In one clip, Ashley recorded herself inside her trailer, saying, “It’s my first day filming in Rome, and they just chose the Pope. Does anyone care?” Her hair and makeup artist responded sarcastically with, “Fantastic,” prompting laughter from Park. She continued, “We’re in a trailer, so you can’t tell we’re in Rome, but we’re here, and we heard the church bells ringing!”

The 33-year-old actress went on to post another video with a lighthearted tone, appearing to poke fun at the Pope’s election, writing, “Mindy’s first day back filming #EmilyInParis season 5! No, I wasn’t late. Yes, the conclave picked the Pope (woooo!). Yes, the traffic was crazyyyy, and yes, I love romaaaaa.”

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While some fans found the videos humorous and appreciated her playful behind-the-scenes posts, others criticized her for being culturally insensitive. One user commented, “So sad! You should apologise,” while another wrote, “You are not in your country; a little respect.” Others emphasized the global significance of the papal election, with one remarking, “Yes, the Catholics picked a pope, and billions care around the world! It’s not always about you.”

As backlash grows across social media, Ashley Park has yet to publicly address the criticism or issue an apology. It remains to be seen whether the incident will impact her image or role in the series.