'Emily in Paris' has turned a once-sleepy corner of the French capital into a must-see destination for fans of the hit Netflix series, but for locals Emily is certainly “not welcome”.
Nestled in the heart of the Latin Quarter, just a stone's throw from the stunning Pantheon, lies the quiet Place de l'Estrapade.
For die-hard fans of the show, this hidden corner of Paris has become iconic in its own right.
When the sun is shining on a weekday (setting the scene, I know), the square is alive with a bustling crowd of tourists from all over of the world, capturing every moment with their cameras, videos, and selfies.
But while the newfound fame of the show has been great for tourism, it has also been a bit of a nuisance for locals.
One resident who emerged from Emily's very own apartment building admitted they were “allergic” to the show.
In fact, "Emily Not Welcome" is scrawled in red graffiti on a section of the building's facade.
Credit: AP News.
Honestly, if I was on a quiet street and it was suddenly filled with people taking photos of my building I would also be annoyed… It's only okay when I'm the one taking pictures, okay?
Thierry Rabineau is the owner of Boulangerie Moderne, the modern bakery featured in the series.
He reveals that the show has actually boosted the bakery's profits - thanks to the influx of visitors who stop by for a quick snack or pastry fix.
But on the flip side, his bakery has also faced some not-so-tasty criticism online.
Some anonymous commenters have slammed the quality of Rabineau's bakery. He believes the show has given viewers the wrong impression, with many assuming that his bakery is a luxury pastry shop when it's actually a standard local bakery that sells croissants for just 1.30 euros (NZD$2.33) each.
It makes me so sad to think that croissants are NZD$2.33 in Paris when it costs me a hefty $5.50 to get one in Tāmaki.
“People are writing comments, saying it’s overpriced, it’s not good. It’s disgusting. This baffles me,” Rabineau said.
“We are profiting from a current situation. ... But in two or three years, there won’t be any more tourism and we will have to be here to survive."
What's most important is that we all continue to froth over our favourite shows while also respecting those who were there BEFORE it was trending, right guys?
