French President Macron Playfully Urges ‘Emily in Paris’ to Stay in France Amid Rome Relocation Plans
Fans of Netflix’s hit series Emily in Paris were caught off guard when season four ended with the announcement that Emily, the beloved lead character, would be moving to Rome. Now, in a lighthearted twist, French President Emmanuel Macron has voiced his thoughts, playfully suggesting that the show should remain in Paris.
“We will ask them to stay in Paris,” Macron told Variety in an interview, adding, “Emily in Rome doesn’t make sense.” Macron’s remarks have added fuel to the conversation about the series’ rumoured shift in setting for its upcoming fifth season.
The show, which follows American marketing executive Emily Cooper (played by Lily Collins) as she navigates life and work in Paris, has become one of Netflix’s most popular series, regularly ranking among its most-watched shows. The upcoming season, according to its creator Darren Star, will have Emily spending time in the Italian capital.
Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, responded to Macron’s playful remarks with his own witty statement on X (formerly Twitter): “Dear Emmanuel Macron, don’t worry: Emily is doing great in Rome. And one can’t control the heart: let her choose.” Gualtieri later told The Hollywood Reporter that Macron “ought to know Netflix doesn’t take orders from heads of state.”
Macron’s connection to the show is not just theoretical. His wife, Brigitte Macron, made a brief cameo in season four, where Emily spotted her in a café and asked for a selfie. Reflecting on Brigitte’s appearance, Macron shared, “I was super proud. It was a very good moment for her and great for the image of France.”
Despite some criticism of the show for relying on Parisian clichés and skirting social issues, Emily in Paris has undeniably boosted tourism in the French capital. A study by France’s national film centre found that one in ten tourists chose to visit France after watching a movie or series, with Emily in Paris being the inspiration for many of those trips.
While Macron enjoys his wife’s involvement in the series, he has no intention of making his own cameo. “I’m less attractive than Brigitte,” he joked.
